Endometrial resectoscopic ablation in patients with menometrorrhagia as a side effect of anticoagulant therapy

Objective: The study was conducted to examine the effect of endometrial ablation therapy for patients suffering from coagulation abnormalities and presenting with failed medical treatment for menometrorrhagia. Study Design: Eleven patients with a mean age of 42 pears (range 39-45) and with coagulation disorders in whom medical therapy for abnormal uterine bleeding was unsuccessful, were treated by the ablation procedure under video monitoring. Complications, length of hospitalisation and long-term follow-up were noted. The age of the patients ranged from 39-45 years. Menstrual characteristics were scored, but blood loss before and after the procedure was not quantified. Results: Uterine fibroids were found in two patients. The duration of the ablation procedure was 20 min and was prolonged for 30 to 40 min when tibroids were diagnosed. During the operation, no excessive bleeding was noted in ten patients and postoperative recovery was rapid in all. After a one-year follow-up the overall satisfaction of the patients was high (10/11). Conclusions: Our initial experience with a selected group of patients suffering from coagulation abnormalities is promising. Bearing in mind the risks of a major operation in this group of patients, endometrial ablation should be seriously considered. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.