Endometrial
Ablation Surgery: An Alternate for Hysterectomy
Endometrial
ablation surgery is an outpatient treatment given for heavy bleeding which
involves removal of the uterus lining. This endometrial ablation is an
option for those women who do not wish to have hysterectomy. Most women
will have less or no menstrual period after a proper endometrial ablation.
The patient needs to have an endometrial biopsy before going for the ablation
to determine the shape, size and to rule out uterus cancer.
There are various procedures of treatment in endometrial ablation.
Laser beam or the laser thermal ablation –the laser beams are used
to destroy the lining of the uterus.
Radio Frequency Ablation – high frequency electrical waves are
passed through a needle to ablate the uterus lining.
Heated balloon – a balloon, filled with heated fluid, helps
in the ablation of the uterus lining.
Resectoscope with a loop or a rolling ball electrode along with the help
of electricity destroys the endometrium that is called elctrosurgery.
This procedure is done in the operating room and is not a common type
ablation surgery.
The other methods are freezing and microwave methods, which are used for
ablation. All the other procedures other than electrosurgery are done
on outpatient basis with local or spine anesthesia.
It may take about forty-five minutes and the patient recovers in two weeks
time. It is better to have a discussion with the doctor before going for
an endometrial ablation.
The risks that go with this endometrial ablation are not common but some
women may experience:
Perforation of the uterus, tear or injury to the cervical opening, infection
and bleeding, burn injuries to the surrounding organs and a very rare
complication is the fluid used in the procedure mixes with the blood and
leads to fluid in the lungs.
Some women may need hormonal medicines before the endometrial ablation
so that the lining becomes thin and has a successful ablation.
Endometrial ablation surgery is not suggested for women with cancer in
the uterus, recent pregnancy, infection in the uterus, endometrial hyperplasia,
any other complaint in the uterus or endometrium or for those who wish
to have further pregnancies.
Around 80 to 90 percent women have successful results but some women may
have a reoccurrence of the problem and need to have an operation after
five years. Older women respond better to this endometrial ablation surgery
than the younger women.
Six to twenty five percent of women state that they still have heavy menstrual
cycle for one year after this ablation surgery and may require hysterectomy
or re-ablation. Even though this endometrial ablation surgery results
in infertility in women, it should not be treated as a birth control procedure.
Even a small portion of the endometrium present in the uterus can result
in pregnancy, which can cause severe conditions.
When comparing the cost of hysterectomy with endometrial ablation surgery
certainly this ablation surgery is cheaper and a quick treatment for the
problem.
