Observation of Intramural Fibroid Expulsion on MRI after Uterine Artery Embolization

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is a type of noninvasive treatment for symptomatic uterine fibroids. One of the complications of UAE is fibroid expulsion. Here, we report a case of a 45-year-old woman who underwent UAE for an intramural fibroid, which resulted in fibroid expulsion. To the best of our knowledge, there are only few reports of expulsion of intramural fibroids. The process of fibroid protrusion from the myometrium into the uterine cavity was depicted on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in this case. We discuss the risk factors and mechanisms of fibroid expulsion after UAE.

Uterine Fibroids and Infertility

Infertility is a disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Uterine fibroids are the most common tumor in women, and their prevalence is high in patients with infertility. Fibroids may be the sole cause of infertility in 2–3% of women. Depending on their location in the uterus, fibroids have been implicated in recurrent pregnancy loss as well as infertility. Pregnancy and live birth rates appear to be low in women with submucosal fibroids; their resection has been shown to improve pregnancy rates. In contrast, subserosal fibroids do not affect fertility outcomes and their removal does not confer any benefit. Intramural fibroids appear to reduce fertility, but recommendations concerning their treatment remain unclear. Myomectomy should be discussed individually with the patient; other potential symptoms such as dysmenorrhea or bleeding disorders should be included in the indication for surgery.

Fibroids and Infertility

Uterine fibroids (also known as leiomyomas or myomas) are the most common pelvic tumors, affecting more than 70% of women over 70 years of age and although most are asymptomatic, some women may experience symptoms, depending on their location and size, which can alter your quality of life, such as abnormal uterine bleeding, anemia, pelvic pain and pressure, dyspareunia, increased urinary frequency and constipation. Its relationship with infertility has been controversial and, although insignificant for subserous fibroids, it appears that submucosal and intramural fibroids that distort the endometrial cavity can affect embryo implantation and are associated with an increased risk of early pregnancy loss. Its treatment will depend on the patient’s symptoms, size, location, whether it is one or multiple, and whether or not she suffers from infertility. It is clear that submucosal fibroids have a negative impact on fertility and with respect to intramural fibroids it is known that fibroids larger than 4 cm alter the probability of pregnancy, however there are studies that show that even smaller or multiple fibroids could affect pregnancy rates. There are multiple options for the treatment of fibroids; however, patients who are candidates for expectant, medical or surgical management should be individualized, and especially if they are going to be taken to surgery, an excellent mapping of fibroids prior to surgical intervention is recommended. Minimally invasive surgery continues to be the approach of choice, it should be left for the open approach in cases in which Laparoscopy is contraindicated or the patient with multiple myomatosis.

Making caesarean myomectomy safe and feasible: a 12 year single center experience

Background: To standardize our protocol of caesarean myomectomy to make it safe and feasible for all patients.Methods: This prospective study was conducted in Aarogya Hospital and test tube baby Centre, Raipur from 1st January 2008 to 1st August 2020. Total 45 patients who had documented fibroid in index pregnancy and consented for the procedure were included. B- Lynch sutures were prophylactically applied in all cases to prevent PPH.Results: Our maximum patients were between the age of 20-30 years (66.67%) and 75.56% were primigravida. 44.45% cases were of intramural fibroids and in 53.34% cases the size of myoma was >5 cm. Malpresentation was seen in 15.56% cases. 62.22% myomas were removed through single incision. 33.33% patients had uneventful second CS with us with excellent scar healing in 93.33% cases. 20% cases had secondary infertility and are advised further evaluation to find cause of infertility.Conclusions: The decision to proceed with elective myomectomy at time of CS should be approached with proper pre-operative evaluation of the patient, thorough counseling for hysterectomy if required, expert team, arrangement of blood and adequate correction of medical factors like anemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Prophylactic application of B -Lynch sutures in all the cases made a dramatic improvement in tone of uterus which we observed intra operatively.

An incidental case of uterus didelphys and fibroids: Right sided myomectomy and left hemi-hysterectomy

Congenital anomalies of the uterus occur due to agenesis or lack of fusion of the Mullerian ducts. The incidence of these anomalies is largely unknown since they are unlikely to be diagnosed in asymptomatic women. Uterine didelphys or double uterus occurs when the two Mullerian ducts fail to fuse resulting in duplication of the uterus and cervix. This report discusses a case of a 38-yearold woman who had presented with a longstanding history of abnormal uterine bleeding and cyclical pain. She had had two successful vaginal deliveries prior to presentation to our unit. Sonographic findings revealed large uterine myomas and was consented for open myomectomy. Intraoperatively she was found to have two uteri, both of which had intramural fibroids and two cervices. Keywords: didelphys uterus, fibroid.

Pseudo-Meigs syndrome: a rare presentation of pedunculated fibroid

Serosal fibroid of uterus are usually asymptomatic but rarely; it may present with atypical symptoms to simulate malignancy and needs extensive evaluation. Authors are reporting a case of 26 years old P1L1 female with history of asymptomatic multiple intramural fibroids since 6 years came with complained of progressively increasing abdominal distension and mild pain abdomen from 2-3 months. On evaluation, she had ascites, pleural effusion and raised Ca-125. MR imaging of pelvis revealed moderate ascites and pedunculated serosal fibroid in addition to intramural fibroids with normal bilateral ovaries. She was evaluated to rule out uterine sarcoma and tuberculosis but diagnosis of them could not be established. Finally, conclusion of Pseudo-Meigs syndrome was made. Myomectomy of single pedunculated fibroid relieved her symptoms. Though, subserosal fibroids are benign in pathology, timely surgery is must to avoid morbidity and mortality owing to massive ascites and pleural effusion.

Efficacy of Intraprocedural Superior Hypogastric Nerve Block in Reduction of Postuterine Artery Embolization Narcotic Analgesia Use

Purpose: Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is an effective treatment for the management of symptomatic uterine fibroids. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of superior hypogastric nerve block (SHNB) in reducing narcotic analgesia use for postprocedural pain after UAE. Methods: A retrospective review of 88 consecutive patients with symptomatic fibroids who underwent UAE between August 2015 and August 2018 was performed. A total of 44 patients had intraprocedural SHNB and 44 patients had no SHNB. They were placed on a morphine patient-controlled anesthesia (PCA) pump after the procedure and were admitted for overnight observation. The total amount of PCA narcotic analgesia received was recorded for each patient. Additional factors including fibroid size, fibroid location, and patient age were evaluated to determine the predictors of narcotic use reduction after SHNB. Results: The mean amount of postprocedural morphine use was 51.7 mg in patients who did not receive an SHNB versus 35.9 mg in patients who did receive an SHNB ( P = .008), resulting in a 47.2% reduction in narcotic analgesia use in the SHNB cohort. A significant reduction in morphine use with SHNB was associated with fibroid size greater than 5 cm ( P = .009), intramural fibroid location ( P = .04), and patients 45 years or younger ( P = .006). Conclusion: The use of SHNB could significantly reduce the amount of narcotic analgesia required for pain control after UAE with larger intramural fibroids and younger patients as predictors of increased efficacy.