What's new in gynecologic endoscopy: endometrial ablation.

From January 1987 to December 1993, 247 patients underwent endometrial ablation as an alternative to hysterectomy in our practice. All these patients had abnormal uterine bleeding, and were evaluated by diagnostic office hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy and then treated in the hospital outpatient center. The success rates for the procedure were greater than 95% as measured by patient satisfaction, and had amenorrhea rates varying from 50% for those patients in their reproductive years to 85% for those patients who were postmenopausal. The complication rates for the procedure were 0.7% and included perforation of the uterus and fluid overload. The procedure of endometrial ablation is a safe, effective alternative to hysterectomy for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding.