Changes in liver and kidney function, red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels 1 day after ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for uterine fibroids

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the changes in liver and kidney function, red blood cell (RBC) count and hemoglobin (HGB) levels in patients undergoing ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (UPMWA) for uterine fibroids on postoperative day 1.

Methods

The changes in liver and kidney function, RBC count and HGB levels in 181 patients who underwent selective UPMWA in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, China, between August 2017 and January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

All patients underwent UPMWA for uterine fibroids; 179 patients had multiple uterine fibroids and 2 patients had single uterine fibroids. The maximum fibroid diameter ranged from 18 to 140 mm, with an average of 68.3 mm. Ultrasound imaging was used to confirm that the blood flow signal within the mass had disappeared in all patients, indicating that the ablation was effective. Within 24 h, compared with before UPMWA, levels of total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin and aspartate aminotransferase had significantly increased (p < 0.01), whereas levels of total protein, albumin, globulin, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine and urea had significantly decreased (p < 0.01). Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurred in 1 of the 181 patients. The RBC count and HGB levels decreased significantly after UPMWA (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for uterine fibroids can impose a higher detoxification load on the liver and cause thermal damage to and the destruction of RBCs within local circulation, potentially leading to AKI. Protein levels significantly decreased after UPMWA. Therefore, perioperative organ function protection measures and treatment should be actively integrated into clinical practice to improve prognosis and enhance recovery.

Keywords:

• Uterine fibroids
• ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation
• acute kidney injury
• liver and kidney function
• perioperative organ protection

Acknowledgements

N/A.

Ethical approval and consent to participate

This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College (ethical approval number: 2022-38). Due to the nature of retrospective study and anonymized patien’s information, informed consent is waived with the approval of Ethics Committee of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College. All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Authors’ contributions

Study design: Huang XY, Lu QS, Wu SP, Huang HM, Zhang YF

Data acquisition: Huang XY, Lu QS, Wu SP, Huang HM, Zhang YF

Data analysis and interpretation: Huang XY, Zhang YF

Manuscript preparation: Huang XY, Lu QS, Wu SP, Huang HM, Zhang YF

Critical revision of the manuscript for intellectual content: Zhang YF

Manuscript review: Huang XY, Lu QS, Wu SP, Huang HM, Zhang YF

Obtaining financing: Huang XY

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data are not publicly available due to their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.

Additional information

Funding

Shantou Medical Health Science and Technology Plan [2022] No. 81-76.