Laparoscopic uterine artery ligation for treatment of symptomatic adenomyosis

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of laparoscopic uterine artery ligation on symptomatic adenomyosis. DESIGN: Prospective pilot study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Tertiary care major teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty women with symptomatic adenomyosis. INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic ligation of bilateral uterine arteries with hemoclips and electrocoagulation of bilateral uterine ovarian vessels. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients underwent sonographic measurement of uterine size, and recorded amount of menstruation and dysmenorrhea preoperatively and postoperatively. Six months postoperatively, mean uterine size had decreased by an amount ranging from 0.4% to 74.0%. Two of nine women achieved remission of the mass effect of an enlarged uterus. Thirteen of 16 patients achieved bleeding control and 5 returned to eumenorrhea or hypomenorrhea. Twelve of 16 patients achieved control of dysmenorrhea and 6 were analgesic free. However, nine women experienced nonmenstrual pain after surgery, three of whom underwent hysterectomy later. Treatment was rated as satisfactory by 15% of patients, but 45% were dissatisfied. Seventeen women would have refused to undergo the procedure if they could make the decision again. CONCLUSION: Poor satisfaction in this preliminary study suggests that symptomatic adenomyosis may not be effectively treated by laparoscopic uterine artery ligation.