Selma ahead in women’s health

Published 12:00 am Thursday, December 9, 2004

A new medical breakthrough in women’s health has been gaining in popularity over the past few years, and along the way has been changing the role of radiology and non-invasive surgery.

Uterine Fibroid Embolization, or UFE, gained national interest last month after Secretary of State Condolezza Rice underwent treatment for uterine fibroids, noncancerous tumors common among women 35-years-old or older.

For years, the standard recommendation for women suffering from fibroids has been a hysterectomy, but research in radiology has uncovered another, less drastic option.

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UFE involves the injection of a solution containing plastic particles into the uterine artery.

These particles block the blood supply to the fibroid, causing it to shrink while not affecting the uterus.

Patients are awake during the surgery but under a heavy sedation.

Dr. Mark LeQuire, a radiologist at Vaughan Regional Medical Center who has preformed around 200 UFE procedures, said the surgery is short, effective and has few complications.

“Ninety percent of women go home the next day,” LeQuire said. “There is a five day recovery time. It’s very unusual to have problems after seven days.”

LeQuire said UFE was first introduced into the medical world about five years ago as an extension of a technique already being used during surgeries to block the blood supply to organs or tumors.

“We’ve had this technology for years and years. Now we are just putting it towards a new application,” LeQuire said.

The UFE procedure, LeQuire said, is an avenue of treatment for women suffering from fibroids who do not want to go under the knife or have their uterus removed.

It is not, however, an ideal course of action for women who still want to have children.

“I let all my patients know about the risks of losing their fertility,” LeQuire said. “It can cause an early menopause. There are other choices for women who still want to have children.”

He also added that while the surgery is “extremely effective” in eliminating the symptoms of pain, discomfort or abnormal bleeding associated with fibroids, it does not cause the fibroid to completely go away and new fibroids could develop in other areas of the uterus.

“My gynecologist colleagues would say this is the reason women should have a hysterectomy, but UFE allows a woman to keep her uterus at least for a few more years,” LeQuire said.

LeQuire said he has preformed all of his UFE procedures in Montgomery, but Vaughan has the technology and equipment for the surgery to be performed in Selma.

“There is not a lot of public awareness about this procedure in this area,” he said. “Women should talk to their doctors about their options and have a keen since of awareness as much as possible.”

The exact reason why uterine fibroids develop is unknown, but research as shown that black women have a higher risk of developing them than other racial groups.

Typical symptoms of uterine fibroids are heavy menstrual periods, camping, pain, and abnormally enlarged abdomen.

Women suffering from these symptoms should consult their doctor.