Cryo Ablation
Cryo ablation for avoiding hysterectomy (sometimes misspelled
as: cryo oblation, cryoablation, cryo-ablation) is the procedure of
exterminating the endometrium of the uterus by means of a cryo procedure
-- by inducing coldness into the womb.
The idea in itself is not new: dermatologists and primary care doctors
have used cryogenic devices since the beginning of the 20th century
to treat warts, pre-cancerous and malignant lesions.
Main Advantages
. It is minimally invasive
with minimal post-operative discomfort.
.
Very
rapid recovery.
.
Minimal
complication rate.
.
Is
as effective as either modalities.
.
Can
be repeated if the conditions warrant it...
.
The
cryogenic corruption probe is officialy approved by the FDA.
Cryo Ablation for the Uterus
This is destroying the lining of the uterus
through cryogenics, the extreme cold. Just as with other types of
uterine ablation, this can reduce or eliminate menstrual bleeding.
You would still need to take a birth control pill or apply contraception
in general. If the lining is not completely destroyed, there is a
small chance of geting pregnant, and such pregnancy must be stopped.
Cryo
ablation is an alternative to hysterectomy, and if it works, you
will have your problem solved, without a hysterectomy. You will
know about 3-4 months after the surgery, whether the bleedings decreased
to a tolerable level or not.
The Procedure
Your doctor may prescribe the medications
to thin the lining of the uterus, usually 21-28 days before the procedure.
In certain cases, you will not be allowed to eat from midnight the
night before the procedure.
The
doctor may decide to sedate you. He or she will monitor the procedure
through the ultrasound machinery. A wand connected to the cryogenic
machine will be inserted into your uterus and gently cooled down.
If eferything is OK, you will go home within hours of the procedure.
It would be best if somebody drove you home.
The Risks of Cryo Ablation
Call your physician in case of
- fever,
- bowel or bladder problems,
- a greenish or foul smelling vaginal
discharge,
- nausea and/or vomiting.
In rare cases, the procedure may
leave you with
- infection,
- ruptured uterus (hole in the uterus),
and
- freezing of internal organs adjacent
to the uterus.
Also rarely, there may be problems
with blood:
- excesive loss of it,
- hemorrhagia,
- collection of blood and/or tissue in
the uterus or Fallopian tubes.
What Cryo Ablation of the Uterus is Not Suitable For
If you want to have children, don't go for
cryo or any other ablation, or for that matter, for any surgical procedure
of the uterus and related organs. Cryo ablation is also not for cases
of endometrial hyperplasia, which is an increased number of cells
in the uterus, and neither is it suitable for adenocarcinoma of the
endometrium (endometrial cancer).
Cryo
ablation may be used to treat cancers of prostate in men, but currently
is not used to treate cancer in uterus.
Post-operative Course
You should expect mild cramps, bloody or
watery vaginal discharge for 7-10 days. No harder physical activity
and no sexual intercourse for at least a week or two. Consult with
your physician for all the details after the intervention.
Click
here for the more general description of endometrial or uterine
ablation. In the rest of this
page we shall briefly touch upon the other uses of cryo ablation.
Cryo Ablation for Heart Problems
This techniques is an important new addition
for treatments of heart, especially for arrhythmia. The advantage
of cryo ablation for heart patients is that doctors can test the place
to put catheter on before actually doing the operation.
Cryo Ablation for Liver Cancer and Tumors
Cryo ablation might come very handy in treatments
of inoperable tumors such as cancer of liver. The problem with this
deep probing is that the catheter must be put exactly in the center
of tumour, which an unreliable procedure without visual guidance in
real time. However, in combination with magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) surgeon can pinpoint the right spot in
real time and actually see how the snowball in the tumor
grows. Results are positive so far, but the whole technique is so
rarely done that many independent studies must be made in order for
it to become routinely accepted.
Cryo Ablation For the Prostate Cancer
In prostate cancer, cryo therapy can also
be performed. It seems to be a fairly efficient procedure in itself,
but it takes a lot of times for doctors to learn it and the hospital
must have specialized equipment. For instance, cryo ablation for cancer
of prostate is done by inserting very fine needles in to the prostate,
then freezing it by argon gas, down to -40 degrees C. The freezing
is constantly monitored by ultrasound.
Cancer of Kidneys
The standard treatment for kidney cancer
is by conventional or laparoscopic method. The tumor must be
fairly small (less than 4 cm in size) and the optimal scenario
is to discover the tumour while doing an ultrasound for something
else. Following the usual post-surgery rules, you can be "up and running" within
a few days from the surgery, returning to the full physical activity
approximately after two weeks.
Cancer of Esophagus
Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease (GERD)
changes the lower part of the esophagus, and makes it suspectible
for further cancer growths. In the USA only, there may 4.5 up
to 7.5 millions of people possibly endangered by this. The cancer
of esophagus is known to progress rapidly, so any means of eliminating
it in the start out phase is important.
Cryo
ablation may also be used in cancer of esophagus, to remove so-called
Barett's cells, which are precancerous and cancerous cells in the
esophagus. Once removed, normal cells can grow in their place. This
cryo technique delivers cryo-material via a catheter, which is introduced
into the esophagus through an accessory channel of an upper gastrointestinal
endoscope. The freezing then removes the abnormal cells. The advantage
of using cryo device in conjunction with the endoscope is that the
surgeon can see exactly wher to put it, without direct mucosal contact.
The whole procedure for esophagus takes about five minutes.
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