Document Type

Article

Department

Obstetrics and Gynaecology (East Africa)

Abstract

Introduction: Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is a minimally invasive intervention that is used in the treatment of fibroids. UAE can lead to complications including postembolization syndrome, postprocedure pain, infection, endometrial atrophy leading to secondary amenorrhea, and uterine necrosis. Uterine necrosis afer UAE is very rare and hence poses a clinical dilemma for any clinician in its identifcation and management. We document a case of uterine necrosis afer UAE and conduct a literature review on its causation, clinical features, and management principles.

Case: A patient presented one month afer UAE with abdominal pain and abdominal vaginal discharge. Her work-up revealed features of possible uterine necrosis with sepsis and she was scheduled for a laparotomy and a subtotal hysterectomy was performed. She was subsequently managed with broad spectrum antibiotic and recovered well.

Conclusion: Uterine necrosis afer UAE is a rare occurrence and we hope the documentation of this case will add to the body of knowledge around it. Teories that explain its occurrence include the use of small particles at embolization, the use of Contour-SE a spherical poly-vinyl alcohol, and lack of collateral supply to the uterus. Its symptoms may be nonspecifc but unremitting abdominal pain is invariably present. Finally although conservative management may be successful at times, surgical management with hysterectomy will be required in some cases. Te prognosis is good afer diagnosis and surgical management.

Publication (Name of Journal)

Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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