Uterine fibroids are very common non-cancerous (benign) growths that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. They can range in size from very tiny (a quarter of an inch) to larger than a cantaloupe. Occasionally, they can cause the uterus to grow to the size of a five-month pregnancy. In most cases, there is more than one fibroid in the uterus. While fibroids do not always cause symptoms, their size and location can lead to problems for some women, including pain and heavy bleeding.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization
Known medically as uterine artery embolization, this approach to the treatment of fibroids blocks the arteries 
that supply blood to the fibroids causing them to shrink. It is a minimally-invasive procedure, which means it requires only a tiny nick in the skin, and is performed while the patient is conscious but sedated — drowsy and feeling no pain.
Fibroid embolization is performed by an interventional radiologist, a physician who is specially trained to perform this and other minimally-invasive procedures.
The interventional radiologist makes a small nick in the skin (less than one-quarter of an inch) in the groin to access the femoral artery, and inserts a tiny tube (catheter--like a piece of spaghetti) into the artery. Local anesthesia is used so the needle puncture is not painful. The catheter is guided through artery to the uterus while the interventional radiologist guides the process of the procedure using a moving X-ray (flouroscopy).
The interventional radiologist injects tiny plastic particles the size of grains of sand into the artery that is supplying blood to the fibroid tumor. This cuts off the blood flow and causes the tumor (or tumors) to shrink. The artery on the other side of the uterus is then treated. The skin puncture where the catheter was inserted is cleaned and covered with a bandage.
Fibroid embolization usually requires a hospital stay of one night. Pain-killing medications and drugs that control swelling typically are prescribed following the procedure to treat cramping and pain. Fever sometimes occurs after embolization and is usually treated with acetaminophen. Many women resume light activities in a few days and the majority of women are able to return to normal activities within one week.
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Contact Information and Scheduling
The Interventional Institute
Holy Name Hospital
201-833-3310
"I exercised my right 
to
shrink fibroids without surgery."
The pain and bleeding that came with uterine fibroids had ruled Leslie Smalls’ life. She didn’t have energy for gym workouts or her family. She slept 12 hours a night and took iron supplements. With a family history of hysterectomies, Leslie thought surgery was inevitable. Until she met with John Rundback, MD, an interventional radiologist with the Interventional Institute at Holy Name Hospital. He offered an option called Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), a minimally, invasive procedure that causes fibroids to shrink. Guided by x-rays, the radiologist injects tiny particles into the arteries that feed the fibroids, cutting off their blood supply and causing them to shrink.
UFE requires only a tiny nick in the skin, and is performed while a patient is conscious but sedated — drowsy and feeling no pain. The procedure usually takes less than an hour and calls for an overnight hospital stay.
It’s been several months since Leslie’s procedure and she not only has the energy to devote to her two children, but has begun exercising and getting her life back on track.
There’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for women with fibroids, so be sure to discuss options with your doctor. For more information about the Interventional Institute, call 201-833-3310.