Endometrial thermal balloon ablation with the ThermaChoice system: effect of intrauterine pressure and duration of treatment.

STUDY

OBJECTIVE

To determine the safety and efficacy of thermal balloon therapy under variable intrauterine pressures and durations of treatment.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study. (Canadian Task Force classification II-1).

SETTING

University-affiliated teaching hospital. Patients. Sixty-six women with menorrhagia.

INTERVENTION: Eighteen patients were treated with the ThermaChoice thermal balloon system for 8 minutes at 80 to 150 mm Hg pressure, 15 were treated for 8 minutes at 151 to 180 mm Hg, and 33 were treated for 12 to 16 minutes at 151 to 180 mm Hg.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

RESULTS

No intraoperative complications occurred and postoperative morbidity was minimal. At 12 to 24 months follow-up, persistent menorrhagia was reported in 56% of women treated at 80 to 150 mm Hg compared with 20% treated at 151 to 180 mm Hg for 8 minutes (p = 0.01), and in 24% treated for 12 to 16 minutes at 151 to 180 mm Hg (p = 0.1).

CONCLUSION

Thermal balloon endometrial ablation is a safe and effective treatment for menorrhagia. Balloon pressure greater than 150 mm Hg increased the effectiveness of treatment. Success was not affected or influenced by increasing the duration of treatment from 8 to 12 minutes or more.