Is an intrauterine device a contraindication for uterine artery embolization? A study of 20 patients.

ABSTRACT

The presence of an intrauterine device (IUD) has been traditionally considered a risk factor for postprocedural infection in patients undergoing uterine artery embolization (UAE). The authors retrospectively evaluated the occurrence of infectious complications following embolization in 20 women with IUDs. After a mean follow-up of 20.5 months, none of the patients developed an infectious complication. One patient required hysterectomy following embolization for persistent pain. Pathologic evaluation of the hysterectomy specimen demonstrated ischemia without evidence of inflammation. This experience suggests that the presence of an IUD might not be considered a contraindication for UAE.