Efficacy of Foley's Catheter and the Effect of Histopathology, Age and Endometrial Thickness Relative to the Measured Outcomes in Menorrhagia.

INTRODUCTION

Menorrhagia adversely affects the quality of life. Hysterectomy is the definitive treatment for menorrhagia however, a number of conservative alternatives are available.

AIM

Hysterectomy is the definitive treatment for menorrhagia however, a number of conservative alternatives are available. A thermal balloon is an effective but costly option. We used a Foley's catheter as an alternative to commercially available thermal balloons. If effective, it will provide a cheap alternative to the thermal balloon.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A Foley's catheter was placed in the uterine cavity for 10 minutes using 0.9% saline. The measured outcomes were amenorrhea, eumenorrhea, oligomenorrhea or failure of the therapy. Endometrial thickness, age and endometrial biopsy results were also measured to determine if these variables had any effects on the outcome.

RESULTS

Out of the total 42 participants, nearly half had amenorrhea (42.9%, n=18). Furthermore, 28.6% had oligomenorrhea (n=12) and 26.2% experienced eumenorrhea (n=11). Only one participant failed to respond (2.4%, n=1). There were no differences in outcomes between the different forms of histopathology. This means that thermal balloon therapy is effective in causing amenorrhea. No significant relationships existed between participants' measured outcomes and a model containing predictor variables (age and endometrial thickness), R=0.313, R2=0.098, p=0.141.

CONCLUSION

A Foley's catheter is effective with reasonable measured outcomes in cases of menorrhagia.