Outpatient Thermachoice Endometrial Balloon Ablation: Long-Term, Prognostic and Quality-of-Life Measures

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate short- and long-term treatment outcomes of outpatient local anaesthetic thermal balloon endometrial ablation (LA-TBEA) and identify any prognostic factors. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study in a UK teaching hospital involving 102 menorrhagic women undergoing LA-TBEA between 2001 and 2005. Women underwent either Gynecare® Thermachoice I (n = 51) or Thermachoice III (n = 51) TBEA performed in the outpatient setting under local anaesthesia without conscious sedation. The main outcome measures were: treatment completion, pain and analgesia, duration of stay (from admission to discharge), duration of follow-up, primary treatment success and nature of any secondary treatment, menstrual symptoms and amenorrhoea, patient satisfaction, and quality of life. RESULTS: TBEA was completed in 97% of women. Mean duration of stay was 8.0 h (95% CI 6.6-9.3). Mean follow-up was 30 months (95% CI 26-32). Secondary treatment with the levonorgestrel intrauterine system, repeat TBEA or hysterectomy occurred in 19/102 (19%). Overall, 50% of surgical re-interventions occurred by 19 months. There were high rates of amenorrhoea (29%) and treatment satisfaction (76%). Higher mean intrauterine ablation pressure was associated with increased treatment satisfaction. CONCLUSION: TBEA can be successfully performed in the outpatient setting. Higher endometrial ablation pressure may improve long-term treatment outcome.