Abstract
Objective
The aim of our study is to review the role of thermal balloon endometrial ablation (TBEA) as an alternative in treating abnormal uterine bleeding.
Methods
Articles relevant to our review and relevant references from the initially identified articles on the field that were archived by May 2007, were retrieved from Pubmed.
Results
Success rates ranged from 83 up to 94%, with patient’s satisfaction ranging from 57 up to 94%. Persisted menorrhagia could reach 17% in some studies.
Conclusion
TBEA is an effective alternative method used in the treatment of menorrhagea which results in a significant reduction in menstrual bleeding and high satisfaction rates. However, a longer follow-up is required to determine the role of such a treatment.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Marsh F, Thewlis J, Duffy S (2007) Randomized controlled trial comparing Thermachoice III in the outpatient versus daycase setting. Fertil Steril 87:642–650
Busfield RA, Farquhar CM, Sowter MC, Lethaby A, Sprecher M, Yu Y, Sadler LC, Brown P, Johnson N (2006) A randomised trial comparing the levonorgestrel intrauterine system and thermal balloon ablation for heavy menstrual bleeding. BJOG 113:257–263
Brun JL, Raynal J, Burlet G, Galand B, Quereux C, Bernard P (2006) Cavaterm thermal balloon endometrial ablation versus hysterocopic endometrial resection to treat menorrhagia: the French, multicenter, randomized study. J Minim Invasive Gynecol 13:424–430
Bongers MY, Bourdrez P, Mol BW, Heintz AP, Brolmann HA (2004) Randomised controlled trial of bipolar radio-frequency endometrial ablation and balloon endometrial ablation. BJOG 111:1095–1102
Van Zon-Rabelink IA, Vleugels MP, Merkus HM, De Graaf R (2004) Efficacy and satisfaction rate comparing endometrial ablation by rollerball electrocoagulation to uterine balloon thermal ablation in a randomised controlled trial. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 114:97–103
van Zon-Rabelink IA, Vleugels MP, Merkus HM, de Graaf R (2003) Endometrial ablation by rollerball electrocoagulation compared to uterine balloon thermal ablation. Technical and safety aspects. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 110:220–223
Laberge PY, Sabbah R, Fortin C, Gallinat A (2003) Assessment and comparison of intraoperative and postoperative pain associated with NovaSure and ThermaChoice endometrial ablation systems. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 10:223–232
Barrington JW, Arunkalaivanan AS, Abdel-Fattah M (2003) Comparison between the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) and thermal balloon ablation in the treatment of menorrhagia. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 108:72–74
Hawe J, Abbott J, Hunter D, Phillips G, Garry R (2003) A randomised controlled trial comparing the Cavaterm endometrial ablation system with the Nd:Yag laser for the treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding. BJOG 110:350–357
Soysal M, Soysal S, Ozer S (2002) A randomized controlled trial of levonorgestrel releasing IUD and thermal balloon ablation in the treatment of menorrhagia. Zentralbl Gynakol 124:213–219
Jarvela I, Tekay A, Santala M, Jouppila P (2001) Thermal balloon endometrial ablation therapy induces a rise in uterine blood flow impedance: a randomized prospective color Doppler study. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 17:65–70
Loffer FD (2001) Three-year comparison of thermal balloon and rollerball ablation in treatment of menorrhagia. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 8:48–54. Erratum in: J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 2001; 8:330
Grainger DA, Tjaden BL, Rowland C, Meyer WR (2000) Thermal balloon and rollerball ablation to treat menorrhagia: two year results of a multicenter, prospective. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 7:175–179
Gervaise A, Fernandez H, Capella-Allouc S, Taylor S, Vieille SL, Hamou J, Gomel V (1999) Thermal balloon ablation versus endometrial resection for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding. Hum Reprod 14(11):2743–2747
Elgarib AE, Nooh A (2006) Thermachoice endometrial balloon ablation: a possible alternative to hysterectomy. J Obstet Gynaecol 26:669–672
Tam WH, Yuen PM, Shan Ng DP, Leung PL, Lok IH, Rogers MS (2006) Health status function after treatment with thermal balloon endometrial ablation and levonorgestrel intrauterine system for idiopathic menorrhagia: a randomised study. Gynecol Obstet Invest 62:84–88
Jarvela IY, Santala M (2005) Treatment of non-atypic endometrial hyperplasia using thermal balloon endometrial ablation therapy. Gynecol Obstet Invest 59:202–206
Olah KS, Alliston J, Jones J, Stewart G, Mavrommatis R (2005) Thermal ablation performed in a primary care setting: the South Warwickshire. Experience. BJOG 112:1117–1120
Solnik JM, Guido RS, Sanfilippo JS, Krohn MA (2005) The impact of endometrial ablation technique at a large university women’s hospital. Am J Obstet Gynecol 193:98–102
Marsh F, Thewlis J, Duffy S (2005) Thermachoice endometrial ablation in the outpatient setting, without local anesthesia or intravenous sedation: a prospective cohort study. Fertil Steril 83:715–720
El-Toukhy T, Chandakas S, Grigoriadis T, Hill N, Erian J (2004) Outcome of the first 220 cases of endometrial balloon ablation using Cavaterm plus. J Obstet Gynaecol 24:680–683
Clark TJ, Gupta JK (2004) Outpatient thermal balloon ablation of the endometrium. Fertil Steril 82:1395–1401
Shaamash AH, Sayed EH (2004) Prediction of successful menorrhagia treatment after thermal balloon endometrial ablation. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 30:210–216
Lok IH, Leung PL, Ng PS, Yuen PM (2003) Life-table analysis of the success of thermal balloon endometrial ablation in the treatment of menorrhagia. Fertil Steril 80:1255–1259
Jarrell A, Olsen ME (2003) Patient satisfaction with thermal balloon endometrial ablation. A retrospective review. J Reprod Med 48:635–636
Amso NN, Fernandez H, Vilos G, Fortin C, McFaul P, Schaffer M, Van der Heijden PF, Bongers MY,Sanders B, Blanc B (2003) Uterine endometrial thermal balloon therapy for the treatment of menorrhagia: long term multicentre follow-up study. Hum Reprod 18:1082–1087
Alaily AB, Auld BJ, Diab Y (2003) Endometrial ablation with the Cavaterm thermal balloon. J Obstet Gynaecol 23:51–54
Mangeshikar PS, Kapur A, Yackel DB (2003) Endometrial ablation with a new thermal balloon system. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 10:27–32
Pellicano M, Guida M, Acunzo G, Cirillo D, Bifulco G, Nappi C (2002) Hysteroscopic transcervical endometrial resection versus thermal destruction for menorrhagia: a prospective randomized trial on satisfaction rate. Am J Obstet Gynecol 187:545–550
Mettler L (2002) Long-term results in the treatment of menorrhagia and hypermenorrhea with a thermal balloon endometrial ablation technique. JSLS 6:305–309
McAllister KF, Bigrigg A (2002) Uterine balloon therapy for menorrhagia: a feasibility study of its use in the community setting. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care 28:133–134
Bongers MY, Mol BW, Brolmann HA (2002) Prognostic factors for the success of thermal balloon ablation in the treatment of menorrhagia. Obstet Gynecol 99:1060–1066
Ulmsten U, Carstensen H, Falconer C, Holm L, Lanner L, Nilsson S, Rasmussen C, Redvall L, Radestad A, Simonsen B, Bergelin I (2001) The safety and efficacy of Menotreat, a new balloon device for thermal endometrial ablation. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 80:52–57
Toth O, Kuzel D, Fucikova Z, Zivny J (2000) Personal experience with thermoablation of the endometrium with the Thermachoice balloon catheter. Ceska Gynekol 65:91–93 32
Vilos GA, Aletebi FA, Eskandar MA (2000) Endometrial thermal balloon ablation with the ThermaChoice system: effect of intrauterine pressure and duration of treatment. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 7:325–329
Aletebi FA, Vilos GA, Eskandar MA (1999) Thermal balloon endometrial ablation to treat menorrhagia in high-risk surgical candidates. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 6:435–439
Hawe JA, Phillips AG, Chien PF,Erian J, Garry R (1999) Cavaterm thermal balloon ablation for the treatment of menorrhagia. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 106:1143–1148
Lissak A, Fruchter O, Mashiach S, Brandes-Klein O, Sharon A, Kogan O, Abramovici H (1999) Immediate versus delayed treatment of perimenopausal bleeding due to benign causes by balloon thermal ablation. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 6:145–150
Buckshee K, Banerjee K, Bhatla H (1998) Uterine balloon therapy to treat menorrhagia. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 63:139–143
Amso NN, Stabinsky SA, McFaul P, Blanc B, Pendley L, Neuwirth R (1998) Uterine thermal balloon therapy for the treatment of menorrhagia: the first 300 patients from a multi-center study. International Collaborative Uterine Thermal Balloon Working Group. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 105:517–523
Fernandez H, Capella S, Audibert F (1997) Uterine thermal balloon therapy under local anaesthesia for the treatment of menorrhagia: a pilot study. Hum Reprod 12:2511–2514
Vilos GA, Fortin CA, Sanders B, Pendley L, Stabinsky SA (1997) Clinical trial of the uterine thermal balloon for treatment of menorrhagia. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 4:559–565
Vilos GA, Vilos EC, Pendley L (1996) Endometrial ablation with a thermal balloon for the treatment of menorrhagia. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 3:383–387
Singer A, Almanza R, Gutierrez A, Haber G, Bolduc LR, Neuwirth R (1994) Preliminary clinical experience with a thermal balloon endometrial ablation method to treat menorrhagia. Obstet Gynecol 83:732–734
Snowden R, Christian B (1983) Patterns and perceptions of menstruation––a World Health Organisation International Study. Croom Helm, London
Clarke A, Black N, Rowe P, Mott S, Howle K (1995) Indications for and outcome of total abdominal hysterectomy for benign disease: a prospective cohort study. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 102:611–620
Neuwirth R, Duran A, Singer A, Bolduc L (1994) The endometrial ablator: a new instrument. Obstet Gynecol 83:792–796
Shaw RW (1994) Assessment of medical treatments for menorrhagia. Br J Obstet Gynecol 101:15–18
Garry R et al (1995) Six hundred endometrial laser ablations. Obstet Gynecol 85:24–29
O’Connor H, Magos A (1996) Endometrial resection for the treatment of menorrhagia. N Engl J Med 335:151–156
Baggish A, Savells J (2007) Complications associated with minimally invasive, non-hysteroscopic endometrial ablation techniques. J Gynecol Surg 23:7–12
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2001/601_tech.html
Roth TM, Rivlin ME (2004) Tuboovarian abscess: a postoperative complication of endometrial ablation. Obstet Gynecolb 104:1198–1199
Kir M, Hanlon-Lundberg KM (2004) Successful pregnancy after thermal balloon endometrial ablation. Obstet Gynecol 103:1070–1073
Garside R, Stein K, Wyatt K, Round A, Pitt M (2004) A cost-utility analysis of microwave and thermal balloon endometrial ablation techniques for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding. BJOG 111:1103–1114
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Iavazzo, C., Salakos, N., Bakalianou, K. et al. Thermal balloon endometrial ablation: a systematic review. Arch Gynecol Obstet 277, 99–108 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-007-0449-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-007-0449-7