A new study reports that myomectomy remains a safe and effective option for recurrent uterine fibroids in women who previously received high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). The findings were published in The International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics.
The research team conducted a retrospective review at the Three Gorges Hospital of Chongqing University in China. They analyzed medical records from January 2018 to December 2021. A total of 193 women were included. All had undergone either abdominal or laparoscopic myomectomy.
Among them, 73 had received HIFU before surgery (Group 1), while 120 had not (Group 2). The study compared surgery time, blood loss, transfusion needs, recovery time, hospital stay, and complications.
For abdominal myomectomy, the median surgery time was shorter in Group 1 at 90 minutes, compared with 110 minutes in Group 2. All other surgical outcomes—such as blood loss, transfusion rates, early mobility, length of hospitalization, and complications—were similar between the two groups.
For laparoscopic myomectomy, both groups showed comparable results across all measured factors. Prior HIFU did not change the difficulty or safety of the minimally invasive procedure.
The median follow-up period was 40 months. Symptom relief rates were 78.1% in Group 1 and 74.1% in Group 2. Recurrence rates were also similar, at 14.6% and 16.4% respectively. Reintervention rates remained low in both groups, with no significant differences.
The study concludes that previous HIFU does not reduce the effectiveness or safety of later myomectomy. Instead, it may shorten operating time for abdominal procedures. Long-term outcomes—including symptom control, recurrence, and the need for additional treatment—were nearly the same in both groups.
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