Uterine Fibroid Embolisation (UFE) – A guide for patients

Introduction

This leaflet is for patients booked for a Uterine Fibroid Embolisation (UFE).

What is UFE?

Uterine fibroid embolisation is a way of treating fibroids by blocking the arteries that feed the fibroids (uterine arteries), making the fibroids shrink. It is an effective alternative to surgery.

Why do I need this procedure?

The doctors looking after you have decided that this is the most effective way to treat your fibroids.

Who has made the decision for me to have this procedure?

The consultant in charge of your case and the radiologist performing the UFE will have discussed your case and come to the conclusion that this is the best way of treating your condition.

You will have the opportunity for your opinion to be taken into account, and if after discussion with your doctors, you do not want the procedure carried out, you can decide against it.

Who will be performing the procedure and other staff you are likely to meet?

• A specially trained doctor called an Interventional Radiologist will be performing your procedure.
• Radiologists have special expertise in using x-ray equipment and in interpreting the images produced, as well as performing minimally invasive procedures.
• They will look at these images whilst carrying out the procedure.
• The Interventional Radiologist will be assisted by a radiographer and nurses and/or other Radiology doctors or trainees.

Where will the procedure take place?

You will be taken to the Interventional Radiology Department.

What happens before my procedure?

• You will be admitted to hospital on the day of, or the night before the procedure.
• A doctor will take a medical history from you.
• You will have a small needle/cannula put into a vein in your arm.
• You will be set up with a PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) pump for pain relief.
• Standard blood tests will be carried out.
• You will be given pre-medication on the morning of the procedure if required.
• If you have any allergies you must let your doctor know and a red allergy band will be attached to your wrist.
• If you have previously reacted to intravenous contrast medium (the dye used for CT scans), you must also tell your doctor about this.
• If you take any medications to thin the blood (anticoagulants or antiplatelets) please let us know beforehand, as these will need to be stopped a certain length of time before the procedure.
• Examples include: warfarin, dalteparin, enoxaparin, tinzaparin, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, clopidogrel, ticagrelor.
• Low dose aspirin (75mg) is safe to continue.
• Please discuss with a doctor before stopping any medicines, as sometimes other treatment will need to be given.

What happens during the procedure?

• You will get dressed into a hospital gown.
• You will lie on the x-ray table, generally flat on your back.
• You will have a monitoring device attached to your finger, and will have a blood pressure cuff placed around your arm.
• The procedure is performed under sterile conditions, and the radiologist and scrub nurse will wear sterile theatre gowns and operating gloves.
• Your skin will be cleaned and local anaesthetic given to numb the area and prevent any pain.
• Local anaesthetic will be injected in the skin in your groin, and a needle will be inserted into the artery.
• Sometimes the procedure will be performed using the artery in the wrist instead of the groin.
• Small catheters (plastic tubes) will then be guided into the arteries that are being treated.
• When pictures need to be taken some iodine dye will be injected; you will be asked to hold your breath for a short time at these points. You may feel a hot feeling from the dye, and it can make your bladder feel full.
• Fluid containing particles will be injected into your arteries suppling the fibroids to block them.
• Once the procedure is completed you will be moved back onto your hospital bed.
• The tube in the artery will then be removed, and pressure applied on the site for several minutes.

Will the procedure hurt?

• Some discomfort may be felt in the skin and deeper tissues during injection of the local anaesthetic.
• You may feel a warm sensation for a few seconds when the x-ray dye is injected and some people report a metallic taste in the mouth. You may also feel like you are passing urine; this is normal.
• There will be a nurse, or another member of the clinical staff, in the room caring for you.
• You may develop pelvic pain towards the end of the procedure – this can be treated with PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) pump and painkillers as necessary.

How long does the procedure take?

Every patient’s situation is different, and it is not always easy to predict how complex or straightforward the procedure will be. Generally, the procedure will last approximately 2 hours.

What happens after the procedure?

• You will be taken back to your ward for observations and a period of bed rest.
• Nursing staff will carry out routine observations including taking your pulse and blood pressure readings and will also check the treatment site.
• If you experience pain, sickness, abnormal swellings or are generally feeling unwell, please let the nursing staff know.
• You will need to stay in bed for at least 6 hours.
• You will be kept in hospital overnight and discharged the next day.
• Once at home, you should refrain from strenuous exercise for about a week.
• One to two weeks off work is advised.

What are the benefits and possible risks of the procedure?

Benefits

• The vast majority of women are pleased with the results, reporting a significant improvement in their quality of life.
• By one year, most fibroids shrink to about half their size resulting in significant improvement in both heavy prolonged periods and symptoms relating to pressure.
• Once fibroids have been treated like this, they do not generally grow back again.
• Some women, who could not become pregnant before the procedure because of their fibroids have become pregnant afterwards. However, if having a baby in the future is very important to you, you need to discuss this with your doctor as it may be that an operation is still the better choice.

Risks

Fibroid embolisation is a safe procedure, but as with any medical procedure there are some risks and complications that can arise.

• Occasionally a small bruise may develop in your groin at the needle entry site.
• Most patients feel some pain afterwards, which ranges from very mild to severe crampy, period-like pain. It is generally worst in the first 12 hours, and is controlled by painkillers.
• You will be given painkiller tablets to take.
• Most patients get a slight fever after the procedure. This is a good sign as it means that the fibroid is breaking down. The painkillers help control this fever.
• Vaginal discharge can occur afterwards and may be bloody, due to the fibroid breaking down. This can persist for up to two weeks or can be intermittent for several months. If the discharge becomes offensive, and if associated with a fever, there is the possibility of infection and you should ask to see your gynaecologist urgently.
• The most serious complication of fibroid embolisation is infection. This happens to perhaps one in every two hundred women. Severe pain, pelvic tenderness and a high temperature can occur.
• Lesser degrees of infection can be treated with antibiotics, or a dilatation and curettage (D&C).
• In severe cases an operation to remove the womb may be necessary but this is extremely rare.
• There is a 2–4% chance that the procedure will lead to premature menopause. This occurs usually in women who are 45 years or older. Most women find it takes about six to nine months to resume a regular menstrual cycle.

Radiation

• You have been referred for an Interventional Radiology procedure to help deliver your treatment. A specialist in radiology agrees that this is the best procedure to treat your clinical condition and that the benefit of the examination is greater than the risk.
• The x-ray involves a dose of ionising radiation equivalent to a few months or years of natural background radiation which we are all exposed to every day.
• Ionising radiation can cause cell damage that may turn cancerous, however the risk of this happening from your examination is considered low.
• Depending on the length of the procedure there may also be a small risk of an excess radiation dose to the skin leading to short term and long-term effects (e.g. reddening of the skin and burns).
• If this happens as a result of this procedure, you will receive further advice following the procedure. The dose delivered will be kept as low as is practicable.
• For further information please see the information on our webpage.

Accessibility requirements

If you require support for your appointment, e.g. if you find it hard to hear, see or be understood by others, please let the receptionist or healthcare professional know on arrival or contact us - email: CUH Accessibility or telephone: 01223 256998.

Pregnancy status

We have a legal responsibility to enquire if you are pregnant. Any patient aged between 12-55 years will be asked if there is a possibility they could be pregnant. This is important for us to know before you have your examination involving ionising radiation.

You can discuss this with a healthcare professional in private if you wish.

Medication

Bring all of your medicines (including inhalers, injections, creams, eye drops or patches) and a current repeat prescription from your GP.

Can I bring someone with me?

Those accompanying you may be required to stay out of the examination room during the procedure and remain in the waiting area.

Childcare whilst in the department

Staff are unable to look after or supervise children whilst your procedure is taking place. Please make alternative arrangements for the care of your children whilst you attend for your procedure. If you attend an appointment with children with no one to look after them whilst you have your procedure, then your appointment will unfortunately have to be cancelled and rescheduled.

Personal belongings

Patients are advised to bring minimal belongings and not to bring valuable items. Any valuable belongings (mobile phone, wallet etc.) will go with the patient while having their procedure and can be secured in a locked box/safe.

How, when and by whom will my results be communicated?

Imaging examinations are reported in order of clinical priority to ensure those with the highest urgency are reported first.

Your referring team or clinician will be responsible for communicating reports back to you.

Test results are made available via MyChart but there is 3-week delay from when an examination has been reported to when it is available on MyChart, in order to allow time for your clinical team to be able to see and action the results prior to them being released to the individual patient.

Contacts/Further information

Please call the Radiology Day Unit and speak to the Imaging Nurses, on telephone number 01223 254639 if you have any questions or concerns about this procedure.

Some of your questions about the procedure should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember this is only a starting point for discussion about your treatment with the doctors looking after you and you will be able to discuss any questions you have with them.

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Question, concern or complaint?

Firstly speak to your nurse, doctor or other staff member as soon as you can so they can do their best to put things right straightaway.

If you don’t feel able to speak directly to the people caring for you, contact the patient advice and liaison service (PALS). Please call 01223 216756 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday, email CUH PALS, or via a form available via link on the CUH PALS webpage.

PALS is open every weekday, and you can leave a message in the evenings and weekends.

MyChart

We would encourage you to sign up for MyChart. This is the electronic patient portal at Cambridge University Hospitals that enables patients to securely access parts of their health record held within the hospital’s electronic patient record system (Epic). It is available via your home computer or mobile device.

More information is available on the My Chart section on our website.

This document has been adapted from one prepared by the British Society of Interventional Radiology (BSIR).