Hydro-Thermal Ablation (HTA)
More than 2.5 million women every year visit their gynecologist because of excessive uterine bleeding, also called menorrhagia. This common ailment can drain a woman's energy and her confidence. Fortunately, hydro-thermal ablation (HTA) can provide long-term relief for women with excessive menstrual bleeding.
HTA allows minimally invasive treatment of excessive menstrual bleeding. Because the treatment relies on the circulation of heated saline, which fills the uterine cavity, it has the unique ability to treat even those women whose uterine cavities have abnormal shapes and also some with fibroids.
A small probe is inserted into the uterus that includes a tiny telescope to allow visualization of the uterine cavity while room temperature saline solution is circulated through the uterine cavity. The fluid is then gradually heated to treat the lining of the uterus (the endometrium); the change in color of the lining shows the effect of the treatment. At the completion of the treatment phase, cool saline solution replaces the heated fluid and then the instrument is removed.
HTA takes about 30 minutes and can be done under local or general anesthesia. In women who participated in FDA trials and provided follow-up information after one year, 40 percent had complete elimination of their menstrual period and another 42 percent said their menstrual bleeding decreased to normal or lower levels. Most women are on their feet and back to their normal schedules within 48 hours. The most common side effect is cramping, which can usually be relieved by taking a common pain reliever for 24 hours before and after HTA.
What is the HTA® System and how does the procedure work?
The Hydro ThermAblator System (HTA System) is a device that allows your gynecologist to perform endometrial ablation on an outpatient basis. This procedure involves your doctor inserting a probe into your uterus that includes a tiny telescope for viewing the lining of the uterus. Heated saline is circulated and is intended to destroy the lining of the uterus, even in a partial septate uterus or one with intra-mural fibroids ≤ 4cm, to eliminate or reduce bleeding to normal levels or less.First, your cervix will be slightly dilated to allow the introduction of the telescope through the vagina, through the cervix and then into the uterus. This gives your gynecologist a view of the inside of your uterus to assure proper positioning. Then, your uterus will be filled with room temperature saline solution to gently clean and flush the uterus. The fluid will be heated to 90º C( 194°F) and circulated in the uterus for ten minutes in order to treat the endometrium (lining of the uterus).When the treatment is complete, the uterus will be flushed with room temperature saline to cool the uterus and the probe. All of the saline will be removed after the cooling phase is completed. Your uterine lining has been treated and will slough off similar to a menstrual period over the next few weeks.
Your gynecologist will do some pretreatment tests that may include a Pap smear, an ultrasound, or a hysteroscopy (look inside the uterus with a tiny telescope) to see why you are having excessive menstrual bleeding.Your physician may give you pain medication before the procedure to reduce cramping during or after the procedure. You and your physician will decide what anesthesia will be best for you to receive during the procedure. Your options are to be fully asleep, or to receive some medication to be sedated (sleepy) during the procedure, or to receive only a local anesthesia injection and be fully awake. If you choose to be awake, you may feel some discomfort, such as cramping, during the procedure but it should not be painful.You should be able to return home on the day of your procedure. You may experience some cramping that should go away by bedtime. You will probably have a pink or yellow watery discharge for a few weeks after your treatment. If you experience two days of heavy bleeding, abdominal or pelvic pain, a fever, or pain that increases over time beyond 24 hours after the procedure, call your physician.Most women should be able to return to normal daily activities the next day.
You should speak with your physician about the resumption of sexual activity. You should not use tampons for up to seven days after the procedure to reduce the potential risk of infection. Your monthly menstrual bleeding may be heavy for a few months after the treatment as a part of the healing process, and should improve after a few months.You should not have this procedure if you desire pregnancy in the future. Endometrial ablation, however, does not prevent you from becoming pregnant and such a pregnancy would be high risk for both mother and fetus. Contraception or sterilization should be used after this treatment since pregnancy can still occur. Please discuss the different options with your physician.Treatment with the Hydro ThermAblator® System (HTA® System) may involve some potential risks that include perforation (creation of a hole) in the wall of the uterus, hemorrhage a hot fluid bowel or other internal organ burn or leakage of hot fluid into the cervix, vagina or out to adjacent tissues. Collection of blood and/or tissue in the uterus post procedure (hematometra) may occur and may require another outpatient procedure to correct the problem.Please see HTA summary of safety and effectiveness / Prescriptive Information for a full list of potential risks, warnings and precautions.