Comparison of long-term outcomes of myomectomy and uterine artery embolization.

Objective: To compare long-term outcomes of uterine artery embolization and abdominal myomectomy in patients with symptomatic uterine myomas.

Methods: At a single institution in an 18-month time, 59 patients had bilateral uterine artery embolization and 38 patients had abdominal myomectomy to treat symptomatic uterine myomas. We reviewed medical records and surveyed patients 3 or more years after their procedures to assess how many needed further surgical procedures in the intervening years, to what extent symptoms remained improved, and how satisfied the patients were with the long term results of the index procedure.

Results: Follow-up was available on 51 embolization and 30 myomectomy patients and ranged from 37 to 59 months. Patients who had embolization were older (44 versus 38 years, P <.001) and more likely to have had previous surgical procedures (P <.001) than those who had myomectomy. Taking into account the variable follow-up period, embolization patients were more likely to have had further invasive treatment for myomas (29% versus 3%) (P =.004). Among women not needing further surgery, overall symptoms improved in 92% (33/36) of embolization and 90% (26/29) of myomectomy patients (P =.78). Ninety-four percent (34/36) of embolization patients and 79% (23/29) of myomectomy patients were at least somewhat satisfied with their choice of procedure (P =.06).

Conclusion: Women who had embolization were more likely than those who had myomectomy to need further invasive treatment (surgery or repeat embolization) in the 3-5 years after the index procedure. Among women who did not need such treatment, satisfaction and relief of symptoms were similar. Large, randomized trials are needed to more accurately compare these two procedures.