Thermal Ablation for Reducing Menorrhagia

A 36-month study has shown that a thermal ablation system substantially reduced heavy menstrual bleeding, or menorrhagia, in 94% of 135 women between 35 and 50 years of age. The study also showed that 53% of the patients experienced a complete cessation of menses. The results were announced at the annual meeting of the American Association of Gynecological Laparoscopists in Miami, FL (USA).

The new system, called the Hydro ThermAblator (HTA), is designed to be an alternative to hysterectomy for reducing menorrhagia and can be performed in a doctor's office. The 10-minute procedure requires no incisions. The patient receives a local anesthetic before a hysteroscopic sheath is inserted through the cervical canal and into the uterine cavity. The cervix forms a seal around the sheath and heated saline is allowed to circulate freely throughout the uterus to ablate the lining responsible for menorrhagia. The procedure can be viewed on a monitor through the use of a hysteroscope. HTA is the product of Boston Scientific Corp. (Natick, MA, USA).

"The HTA device was carefully designed to be a safe and thorough method of ablating the uttering lining responsible for menorrhagia,” said Stephen Corson, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine and director of the study.




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