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Do You Have Uterine Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths in the uterus that cause symptoms such as pain and heavy bleeding for some women. Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is an approved, non-surgical treatment that may be a better option for many women with uterine fibroids than conventional treatments that remove the uterus (hysterectomy) or scrape or burn the fibroids in the uterus (myomectomy). If you would like to avoid the removal of your uterus or other surgery that requires a lengthy recovery, you've come to the right place.
| Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is a nonsurgical procedure that has been performed in thousands of women. It has been shown in clinical trials to be a safe and effective technique for the removal of uterine fibroids and is a less invasive and safer alternative to surgical options. UFE is performed by interventional radiologists, physicians who perform procedures using tiny instruments that are threaded through the blood vessels and guided by X-rays. |  |
Unlike surgery, UFE does not require general anesthesia, stitches, scarring, blood loss, removal of the uterus or burning or scraping of the uterine lining. There is a much more rapid return to normal function after UFE than after open surgery.
UFE is an Approved Fibroid Treatment
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of embolizing particles to treat fibroid tumors with UFE, and the procedure is recognized by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG).
Links to: FDA statement | ACOG statement (links to professional sites)
The procedure is reimbursed by most insurance companies and other healthcare plans. Since 1995, more than 200,000 women worldwide, including more than 150,000 in the U.S., have been treated with uterine fibroid embolization.
Vascular and Interventional Radiologists, SRSC, practicing in the Chicago suburbs, are specialists in uterine fibroid embolization. Locations include Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital, Adventist Hinsdale Hospital, and our newest office in Willowbrook, Illinois.
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Our team of board certified interventional radiologists who run the Center for Uterine Fibroids are Steven J. Smith, MD, Luke E. Sewall, MD, Athanasios Vlahos, MD, and Frank Facchini, MD. |
| Our physicians pioneered the procedure in their area. They were among the first physicians in the U.S. to receive special training in UFE, and were the first to perform UFE procedures in the Midwest. |
Caring for Women
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Deciding which is the best option for treating your uterine fibroids can be a difficult decision. Our Clinical Coordinator, Carol Goedert, RT, RN can help. She is an expert in all treatment options, including uterine fibroid embolization, and has consulted with many women like you to help them understand and weigh all their options. |
Carol is an integral part of the practice team, and has worked with Drs. Smith and Sewall for more than 15 years. She is the first person you will speak with when you call to schedule an appointment, and will continue to be a caring and attentive advocate who remains in close contact with you through all the stages of diagnosis, treatment and follow up.
Click to schedule a consultation online.
In the News
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See a news video about how our doctors performed the first ever successful UFE on a gorilla. |
Read Dr. Smith's article about uterine fibroids, published in the June 2000 issue of American Family Physician.
Vascular and Interventional Radiology, SRSC
(630) 856-7460
E-mail info@drfibroid.com
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About UFE
| History | Information on Fibroids
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