Submyometrial vasopressin injection before microwave ablation of vascular-rich submucosal myomas: a preliminary case study

Abstract

Purpose: Vascular-rich myomas are resistant to treatment involving transcervical microwave myolysis. To overcome cooling by blood perfusion, we injected dilute vasopressin solution into the space between the myometrium and the surface of the vascular-rich myomas.

Material and Methods: Seven outpatients [age (mean ± SD age), 44.9 ± 3.9 years] with a single symptomatic vascular-rich submucosal myoma measuring 4.2–9.2 cm (6.5 ± 2.5 cm) underwent transcervical microwave myolysis and microwave endometrial ablation. Before microwave irradiation, dilute vasopressin solution was injected into the space between the myometrium and the surface of the vascular-rich myoma. We assessed the changes in the volumes of the vascular-rich myomas and blood hemoglobin levels before and 3 and 6 months after treatment. In addition, improvements in menorrhagia and satisfaction after the operation were assessed using visual analog scales.

Results: Submyometrial injection of dilute vasopressin effectively reduced the abundant blood flow. The vascular-rich myomas were necrotized and shrank significantly by 69.0% at 3 months and 72.4% at 6 months after the operation (p < .05). Blood hemoglobin levels significantly increased at 3 months (p < .01). In addition, the visual analog scale results indicated that menorrhagia improved subjectively and the patients were satisfied with the results of the operation.

Conclusions: Vasopressin injection before transcervical microwave myolysis leads to extended necrosis of vascular-rich submucosal myomas.

Keywords:

• Microwave endometrial ablation
• cellular leiomyoma
• vasopressin injection
• microwave myolysis
• vascular-rich myoma

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.