Aim: This study was designed to compare the safety and feasibility of uterine fibroid embolisation (UFE) via transradial access (TRA) and transfemoral access (TFA).
Material and methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 2 cohorts: 13 cases with already established TFA (from February 2016 to September 2018) and the first 11 procedures performed via TRA (from October 2017 to October 2018). Indications for embolization included: heavy menstrual bleedings (n = 18), lower urinary tract symptoms (n = 2), pelvic pain (n = 3) and abdominal pain (n = 1). One interventional radiologist and one fellow performed all procedures at one institution. Technical success, procedural time, access site complications as well as feedback from patients were assessed for analysis.
Results: Technical success was achieved in 24/24 cases (100%). Unilateral uterine artery embolisation was performed in 7 cases (29.1%) and bilateral in 17 cases (70.8%). Mean procedure time was 72.4 minutes in TFA group, and 60.3 minutes in the TRA group. Mean fluoroscopy time was 25.3 minutes in the TFA group and 21.1 minutes in the TRA group. Access site-related and overall adverse events did not vary significantly among the study cohorts.
Conclusions: TRA represents a safe and feasible approach for UFE with a comparable safety profile to TFA.
Keywords: Access; Embolization; Fibroids; Transradial.