Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of MR guided FUS (HIFU)?

• Effective alternative to surgery and hormonal treatment
• Completely non-invasive - no surgery and no blood loss
• No hospital stay
• Quick return to normal activities
• Preserves the uterus and cervix
• Significant improvement in your quality of life
  • decrease in menstrual bleeding from symptomatic fibroids
  • decrease in urinary dysfunction, pelvic pain and/or pressure

What are the risks and complications associated with MR guided FUS?

Overall, MR guided FUS is a safe procedure for treating symptomatic fibroids with minimal risk. Infrequent complications that have been reported following MR guided FUS are listed below. You should talk to your doctor about the likelihood that you may experience any of these risks.

Short term

• Low blood pressure or fainting during or after procedure
• Abdominal pain/cramping, nausea and/or fever
• Allergic reaction to contrast media or medications
• Minor skin injury (burns)
• Back or leg pain that persists for a few days
• Urinary tract infection

Long term

The incidence of serious or long term risks reported for this procedure is extremely low. However, you should be aware that there have been rare reports following MR guided FUS of:

• Abdominal skin burn with ulceration
• Back or leg pain or weakness

Additional risks

• There is a risk that the treatment may not be successful and you may require an alternative treatment therapy to improve your symptoms.
• The treatment may be successful in reducing the symptoms from the fibroids that are treated, but at a later time, more fibroids may become symptomatic, requiring additional treatments. This is true for all fibroid treatments, except hysterectomy.

If you have any questions concerning risks and complications of the procedure, you should discuss them with your doctor.

What should I know before the MR guided FUS procedure?

You should let your doctor know if you are allergic to certain medications or contrast agents to avoid any type of reaction to the procedure. You and your doctor also will decide what type of sedation works best for you. Most doctors use conscious sedation, which means you are awake during the procedure but you may feel groggy.

What happens to me after the MR guided FUS procedure?

MR guided FUS is performed as an outpatient procedure that takes 3-4 hours. Following the treatment you will rest for an additional 1-2 hours until the sedation wears off. After that you will be released and can go home.

What happens when I go home?

You will receive discharge instructions from your doctor, depending upon how you are feeling. Usually nothing is required, although the doctor may recommend over-the-counter pain relief medication. Occasionally women may experience some cramping, similar to menstrual period cramping or shoulder/back pain from lying in the treatment position.

Most women are able to return to work and normal activity the day after the procedure.

Who will provide my post procedure care after MR guided FUS?

It is important that you and your doctor discuss who will handle your follow-up care, phone calls and/or office visits, after the procedure. You should also know whom to contact in case of an emergency after your procedure. This is especially important if you experience fever, pelvic pain, or foul-smelling vaginal discharge that increases over time and lasts more than 24 hours.

Learn about focused ultrasound

Read a UK Study examining the cost-effective MRgFUS fibroid treatment

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