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Vital Signs

Uterine Fibroid Embolization: A Reader Responds

In the Winter 2005 issue of MN, our Second Opinion column focused on raising nurses’ awareness of uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), an innovative new treatment for uterine fibroids, which are especially common in African American women. The article, “Knowing All the Options” by Curt Cornell, RN, CEN, CRN, explained that UFE, a minimally invasive non-surgical procedure performed by interventional radiologists, can be a viable alternative to hysterectomy for many fibroid patients, yet only 38% of gynecologists offer UFE as a treatment option.

In response, we recently received this letter from Suzette Wheeler, RN, MS, CCRC, a nurse who works at Radiology Associates of Atlanta:

“I was extremely excited to read the article on uterine fibroid embolization by Curt Cornell,” she writes. “I am the research coordinator for John C. Lipman, one of the authors of a study [about the benefits of UFE] that was cited in the article. I have had the opportunity to work with this patient population for the past seven years. It is extremely refreshing to see a fibroid patient who has received UFE return at the three to six month interval virtually symptom free.

“Fortunately, we have advanced from complete insurance denial of the procedure in the Atlanta, Ga., market to a select few insurance companies not covering UFE. We must continue to empower the community through education. This is an ideal example of the nurse functioning as the patient advocate.

“Overwhelmingly, 90% or more of the patients seeking treatment for symptomatic uterine fibroids are African American. Of that 90%, approximately 50% found information regarding UFE through word of mouth or an online search.”