Effects of Selective Blockage of Utero-ovarian Anastomoses on Clinical Results of Uterine Artery Occlusion

BACKGROUND: We assessed the results and impact of blockage of utero-ovarian anastomoses (UOA) on clinical outcome in women treated by laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion for uterine fibroids. METHODS: Between 2004 and 2005, we prospectively analyzed the clinical data for 23 laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion cases combined with blockage of utero-ovarian anastomoses (Group A) and 67 laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion cases alone (Group B). RESULTS: Of these 23 patients with UOA (mean age, 36.7±2.8 years), 10 patients (43.4%) had anastomoses bilaterally and 13 patients (56.6%) had unilateral anastomoses. Mean fibroid size reduction after LUAO and anastomoses blockage was 32.5% from baseline (P<0.001). In patients with LUAO, the mean DF size after surgery was estimated at 38.7±19.2 mm, which translated to a mean fibroid size reduction of 30.6% from baseline (P<0.001). No case of clinical failure or recurrence was found in Group A patients with UOA (mean follow-up, 15.6 months), who were treated with combined surgery. At a mean clinical follow-up of 18.2 months (Group B), 6 patients (8.9%) elected to undergo further surgical intervention for clinical failure and recurrence, including 4 myomectomies and 2 hysterectomies. The statistical difference between groups was not significant (P=0.33). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic blockage of utero-ovarian anastomoses combined with uterine artery occlusion is a safe, feasible surgical procedure in women with symptomatic fibroids. Combining the uterine artery occlusion and blockage of UO anastomoses may be a useful procedure for the decreasing rate of clinical failure and recurrence. This premise should be confirmed in a larger prospective multicenter study.