HIFU – Bloodless Triumph Over Fibroids

Fibroids are non-malignant uterine tumors that are noted in 25% of women in their fertile age. Several women having fibroids are asymptomatic; however, their proliferation leads to major problems like heavy menstrual bleeding, abdominal pain and discomfort, altered bowel and bladder control, abdominal lumps and in certain situations leading to sterility.

When they grow to a large extent or become symptomatic, the fibroids need to be removed by surgical intervention. HIFU or High Intensity Focused Ultrasound is the only top-of-the-line, non-invasive treatment for fibroids. Ultrasound waves comprising of high frequency sound waves inaudible to the human ear are focused on the offending tissue that heats it up, much alike the operation of a magnifying glass. Employing this principle, well-focused ultrasound waves are concentrated into the body and at the central point the ultrasound waves heave the temperature of the fibroid tissue causing its annihilation. Continual imaging of the targeted aberrant tissue during treatment aids in ascertaining a favourable therapy result. This is a non-invasive outpatient method.

Advantages of HIFU

• Effectual adjunct to surgical intervention and hormonal treatment.
• Totally non-invasive – without the need for surgery, anaesthesia or loss of blood.
• No hospitalisation required.
• Aids in preservation of the uterus and cervix.
• Majorly enhances the quality of life and swifter return to normal functioning.

Type of Fibroids being treated using HIFU

HIFU could be employed on all fibroid forms namely, submucosal, subserosal and intramural. These terminologies depict the site of the fibroids within the uterus. Fibroids located in unreachable locations by the concentrated ultrasound, might not be treated.

The Treatment Procedure

The complete procedure is conducted on a task-specific treatment table wherein the doctor captures images to spot the uterus and the presence of one or more fibroids. These images are then employed for development of a treatment plan-of-action.

When the treatment commences, a small ray of concentrated ultrasound is aimed at the target for a short duration of time and aids in raising the temperature leading to heating up of the tissue. The images of the offending tissue are taken during the phase.

The system then transcends into the subsequent treatment plan and the process is continued till the total volume has been treated. HIFU is conducted on an outpatient basis in the absence of any anaesthetic procedure and takes close to half an hour following which the patient can be discharged. The number of sittings needed would vary in accordance to the type of each fibroid.

Due to any particular reason the patient does not experience respite from her niggling symptoms, then laparoscopic fibroid removal is conducted as the penultimate line of treatment.

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