Efficacy of Intraprocedural Superior Hypogastric Nerve Block in Reduction of Postuterine Artery Embolization Narcotic Analgesia Use

Purpose: Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is an effective treatment for the management of symptomatic uterine fibroids. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of superior hypogastric nerve block (SHNB) in reducing narcotic analgesia use for postprocedural pain after UAE. Methods: A retrospective review of 88 consecutive patients with symptomatic fibroids who underwent UAE between August 2015 and August 2018 was performed. A total of 44 patients had intraprocedural SHNB and 44 patients had no SHNB. They were placed on a morphine patient-controlled anesthesia (PCA) pump after the procedure and were admitted for overnight observation. The total amount of PCA narcotic analgesia received was recorded for each patient. Additional factors including fibroid size, fibroid location, and patient age were evaluated to determine the predictors of narcotic use reduction after SHNB. Results: The mean amount of postprocedural morphine use was 51.7 mg in patients who did not receive an SHNB versus 35.9 mg in patients who did receive an SHNB ( P = .008), resulting in a 47.2% reduction in narcotic analgesia use in the SHNB cohort. A significant reduction in morphine use with SHNB was associated with fibroid size greater than 5 cm ( P = .009), intramural fibroid location ( P = .04), and patients 45 years or younger ( P = .006). Conclusion: The use of SHNB could significantly reduce the amount of narcotic analgesia required for pain control after UAE with larger intramural fibroids and younger patients as predictors of increased efficacy.