An Effective Alternative to
Hysterectomy
There is a growing movement to reduce the
number of unnecessary hysterectomies,
which is now possible thanks to advances
in technology. In fact, an article in AARP
The Magazine called hysterectomy one of
“4 surgeries to avoid.”
“Unfortunately, many women are not aware
that they have options to treat fibroids,”
says Fakhir Elmasri M.D., an interventional
radiologist with Lakeland Vascular Institute.
One of those options, he says, is a procedure
called uterine fibroid embolization,
or UFE.
“UFE is ideal for patients such as Carmen
and Latoya,” said Dr. Elmasri. “It is highly
effective, minimally invasive and may be
performed on an outpatient basis, so there
is very little recovery time. Most patients
return home within 24 hours.”
During the UFE procedure, a specially
trained physician (known as an interventional
radiologist) makes a small incision
in the skin and inserts a catheter into the
femoral artery, which extends from near
the abdomen and down each leg. Using
imaging guidance, the catheter is guided
through the body and into the blood vessels
feeding the fibroid(s) in the uterus. Tiny
Close up of a uterine fibroid
particles called microspheres are injected
into the vessel, which block the flow of
blood into the uterine fibroid and causes it
to shrink. As the fibroid shrinks, the symptoms
disappear. Women who undergo UFE
have a high level of satisfaction and report
a significant improvement in quality of life,
even over the long term. 3,4
Dr. Elmasri says he prefers UFE to the surgical
removal of fibroids (myomectomy) because
there is a high likelihood of fibroids
returning after the myomectomy procedure.
“Since UFE cuts off the blood supply
to all fibroids, the results are longer lasting.”
Our Mission…
…is to serve our patients with the highest standards in medical
care. With our highly-skilled, experienced board-certified interventional
radiologists and knowledgeable and supportive staff, we offer
a unique combination of cutting edge technology and exceptional
patient care.
22 WomanToWomanMagazine.com
/WomanToWomanMagazine.com
