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A 6‐year Review of the Outcome of Endometrial Ablation
Author(s) -
Tsaltas Jim,
Taylor Nancy,
Healey Martin
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1998.tb02962.x
Subject(s) - endometrial ablation , medicine , dysfunctional uterine bleeding , hysterectomy , ablation , context (archaeology) , pelvic pain , gynecology , general surgery , obstetrics , surgery , endometrium , paleontology , biology
EDITORIAL COMMENT: We accepted this paper for publication since it informs readers that more than 3 in 4 women who have endometrial ablation, and who can be contacted and are willing to provide follow‐up information, are satisfied with the results. This is important information in the context of the recent spate of papers, in this and other journals, advancing the merits of laparoscopically‐assisted vaginal hysterectomy, usually performed for dysfunctional uterine bleeding, which is also the main indication for endometrial ablation. The 2 procedures are competitive, but endometrial ablation has many advantages if it can produce the results presented in this paper. The hysterectomy rate of17% is a minimum figure since many of the 36% of women sent the follow‐up questionnaire, and who did not respond, may have had hysterectomy performed elsewhere. Women who have abdominal pain, chronic or periodic, and amenorrhoea after endometrial ablation require special consideration. They probably warrant cervical dilatation and/or ultrasonography to exclude haematometra if the pain is persistent. Summary: In June, 1995 a postal questionnaire was distributed to all 232 women who had an endometrial ablation at Monash Medical Centre between July, 1989 and December, 1994. Data was analyzed from the 149 who responded. Length of follow‐up ranged from 6 months to 6 years 6 months. Of these 78% were satisfied with their ablation and 84% found their menses to be lighter or to have stopped. The repeat ablation rate was 13% and the hysterectomy rate was 17%.