Background: Uterine fibroids are benign tumors seen in 20-40% of women of childbearing age, and these fibroids are usually treated by hysterectomy. During the last decade, embolization of the uterine arteries with polyvinyl alcohol microparticles has become an alternative treatment.
Purpose: To investigate whether uterine artery embolization generates a reduced inflammatory response as compared with conventional hysterectomy.
Material and methods: 40 women, 20 in each group, entered this prospective, non-randomized study. The two groups were comparable concerning age, comorbidity, and body-mass index (BMI).
Results: We found a significant difference between the inflammatory responses in women undergoing embolization compared with the inflammatory response in women having an abdominal hysterectomy. Women undergoing embolization were subjected to a much smaller inflammatory burden, their total morphine consumption was lower, and their return to work was faster than women subjected to conventional hysterectomy.
Conclusion: Uterine artery embolization generates a reduced inflammatory response compared with conventional hysterectomy.