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Last updated: 11-05-2012
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| New Color-Enhanced Beads Being Used In Embolization Treatment for Fibroid Tumors March 13, 2009 |
A new type of bead is being used in a minimally invasive procedure to treat uterine fibroids which are non-cancerous tumors of the uterus. Washington Hospital Center doctors are using the new synthetic beads called Embozene™ Color-Advanced Microspheres in uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). UFE is a non-surgical treatment during which an interventional radiologist injects these microspheres through a tiny catheter into the blood vessels that lead to the fibroids. The microspheres- each about the size of a salt crystal- block the blood flow to the fibroids causing them to shrink within weeks after treatment. The Hospital Center is one of the first hospitals in the nation to use Embozene™. The product, recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has a unique feature where the microspheres are color-coded by size for increased visibility and to make selection easy and efficient for the physician. “I had the opportunity to visit a German hospital that did the pre-clinical work with Embozene™. Being able to see first-hand how they performed - their suspension, calibration, safety, and ease of use was important in bringing this new and improved technology to an important procedure we perform on a daily basis, said Keith Horton, MD, chief of informatics in the division of Interventional Radiology at the Hospital Center. “We are pleased to offer this newer microsphere technology to our patients.” Unlike larger materials used to cut off blood flow, the microspheres block smaller vessels by going further into the artery allowing for more thorough blockage. In addition, recent clinical data suggest these spheres may help reduce post-op inflammation and cause less pain for the patient. Uterine fibroid embolization takes about 60 to 90 minutes. Most patients typically require only an overnight stay in the hospital. Embolization is a less invasive alternative to traditional and more common procedures such as hysterectomy, which removes fibroids by removing the uterus; or myomectomy, which surgically removes the fibroids from within the uterus. Media Contact: So Young Pak (202) 877-2748 soyoung.pak@medstar.net |
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