Are UAE and UFE the same thing? And how long has the procedure been around?

Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) and Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE) are two names for the same procedure and can be used interchangeably.  Since the actual procedure entails the blocking or “embolization of the uterine artery, UAE is probably a more appropriate term.

Embolization of the uterine artery has been used as a treatment for severe uterine bleeding during surgery or childbirth for some time. However, this procedure was initially used in fibroid patients as a method of decreasing the blood loss that occurs during myomectomy, but it was later discovered that after the embolization, many patient’s symptoms went away and surgery was no longer needed.

After making this stark discovering, UAE was then  used as a treatment specifically for fibroids in France  in the early 1990’s and Dr. Bruce McLucas  was the first person to pioneer the use of this procedure for fibroid treatment in the United States in 1995.  

For more information on fibroids or UAE, please give us a call at 866-362-6463 or request a free phone consultation. 

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