Jun, Feng, Yamin, Liu, Xinli, Xiao, Zhe, Liu, Min, Zhang, Bo, Zhang, and Wenli, Gou
Purpose: The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy and safety of uterine artery embolization (UAE) for symptomatic uterine fibroids with surgery. Methods: Both a randomized, controlled trial and meta-analysis of existing studies were performed. Results: Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either UAE or surgery with 63 patients undergoing UAE and 64 undergoing surgery. A meta-analysis of existing studies was also performed.There were significant improvements in UAE groups in most components of quality of life assessment at 6 months. Besides, the UAE group had a shorter hospital stay ( P < 0.01) and a shorter recovery time ( P < 0.01) compared with the surgical group. During the follow-up, there were no difference in complications incidence (58 vs. 65%, P > 0.05), but the UAE group had less major complications (0 vs. 6%, P < 0.05). Meta-analysis of existing studies including those from the current study, further suggested that UAE group had a shorter hospital stay, a shorter recovery time and less major complications than the surgical group. Conclusions: Compared with surgery, UAE has a shorter hospital stay, a shorter recovery time, and less major complications. More studies in the future need to done to evaluate its long-term effects and impact on fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]