Hysterectomy, endometrial ablation and Mirena® for heavy menstrual bleeding: a systematic review of clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this project was to determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of hysterectomy, first- and second-generation endometrial ablation (EA), and Mirena® (Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Pittsburgh, PA, USA) for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding.

DESIGN

Individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis of existing randomised controlled trials to determine the short- to medium-term effects of hysterectomy, EA and Mirena. A population-based retrospective cohort study based on record linkage to investigate the long-term effects of ablative techniques and hysterectomy in terms of failure rates and complications. Cost-effectiveness analysis of hysterectomy versus first- and second-generation ablative techniques and Mirena.

SETTING

Data from women treated for heavy menstrual bleeding were obtained from national and international trials. Scottish national data were obtained from the Scottish Information Services Division.

PARTICIPANTS

Women who were undergoing treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding were included.

INTERVENTIONS

Hysterectomy, first- and second-generation EA, and Mirena.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Satisfaction, recurrence of symptoms, further surgery and costs.

RESULTS

Data from randomised trials indicated that at 12 months more women were dissatisfied with first-generation EA than hysterectomy [odds ratio (OR): 2.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.54 to 3.93; p = 0.0002), but hospital stay [WMD (weighted mean difference) 3.0 days, 95% CI 2.9 to 3.1 days; p < 0.00001] and time to resumption of normal activities (WMD 5.2 days, 95% CI 4.7 to 5.7 days; p < 0.00001) were longer for hysterectomy. Unsatisfactory outcomes associated with first- and second-generation techniques were comparable [12.2% (123/1006) vs 10.6% (110/1034); OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.62; p = 0.2). Rates of dissatisfaction with Mirena and second-generation EA were similar [18.1% (17/94) vs 22.5% (23/102); OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.38 to 1.53; p = 0.4]. Indirect estimates suggested that hysterectomy was also preferable to second-generation EA (OR 2.32, 95% CI 1.27 to 4.24; p = 0.006) in terms of patient dissatisfaction. The evidence to suggest that hysterectomy is preferable to Mirena was weaker (OR 2.22, 95% CI 0.94 to 5.29; p = 0.07). In women treated by EA or hysterectomy and followed up for a median [interquartile range (IQR)] duration of 6.2 (2.7-10.8) and 11.6 (7.9-14.8) years, respectively, 962/11,299 (8.5%) women originally treated by EA underwent further gynaecological surgery. While the risk of adnexal surgery was similar in both groups [adjusted hazards ratio 0.80 (95% CI 0.56 to 1.15)], women who had undergone ablation were less likely to need pelvic floor repair [adjusted hazards ratio 0.62 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.77)] and tension-free vaginal tape surgery for stress urinary incontinence [adjusted hazards ratio 0.55 (95% CI 0.41 to 0.74)]. Abdominal hysterectomy led to a lower chance of pelvic floor repair surgery [hazards ratio 0.54 (95% CI 0.45 to 0.64)] than vaginal hysterectomy. The incidence of endometrial cancer following EA was 0.02%. Hysterectomy was the most cost-effective treatment. It dominated first-generation EA and, although more expensive, produced more quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) than second-generation EA and Mirena. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for hysterectomy compared with Mirena and hysterectomy compared with second-generation ablation were £1440 per additional QALY and £970 per additional QALY, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite longer hospital stay and time to resumption of normal activities, more women were satisfied after hysterectomy than after EA. The few data available suggest that Mirena is potentially cheaper and more effective than first-generation ablation techniques, with rates of satisfaction that are similar to second-generation techniques. Owing to a paucity of trials, there is limited evidence to suggest that hysterectomy is preferable to Mirena. The risk of pelvic floor surgery is higher in women treated by hysterectomy than by ablation. Although the most cost-effective strategy, hysterectomy may not be considered an initial option owing to its invasive nature and higher risk of complications. Future research should focus on evaluation of the clinical effectivesness and cost-effectiveness of the best second-generation EA technique under local anaesthetic versus Mirena and types of hysterectomy such as laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy versus conventional hysterectomy and second-generation EA.

FUNDING

The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.

Hysterectomy, endometrial destruction, and levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine system (Mirena) for heavy menstrual bleeding: systematic review and meta-analysis of data from individual patients

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relative effectiveness of hysterectomy, endometrial destruction (both "first generation" hysteroscopic and "second generation" non-hysteroscopic techniques), and the levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine system (Mirena) in the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding.

DESIGN

Meta-analysis of data from individual patients, with direct and indirect comparisons made on the primary outcome measure of patients' dissatisfaction.

DATA SOURCES

Data were sought from the 30 randomised controlled trials identified after a comprehensive search of the Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, and CINAHL databases, reference lists, and contact with experts. Raw data were available from 2814 women randomised into 17 trials (seven trials including 1359 women for first v second generation endometrial destruction; six trials including 1042 women for hysterectomy v first generation endometrial destruction; one trial including 236 women for hysterectomy v Mirena; three trials including 177 women for second generation endometrial destruction v Mirena). Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Randomised controlled trials comparing hysterectomy, first and second generation endometrial destruction, and Mirena for women with heavy menstrual bleeding unresponsive to other medical treatment.

RESULTS

At around 12 months, more women were dissatisfied with outcome with first generation hysteroscopic techniques than with hysterectomy (13% v 5%; odds ratio 2.46, 95% confidence interval 1.54 to 3.9, P<0.001), but hospital stay (weighted mean difference 3.0 days, 2.9 to 3.1 days, P<0.001) and time to resumption of normal activities (5.2 days, 4.7 to 5.7 days, P<0.001) were longer for hysterectomy. Unsatisfactory outcomes were comparable with first and second generation techniques (odds ratio 1.2, 0.9 to 1.6, P=0.2), although second generation techniques were quicker (weighted mean difference 14.5 minutes, 13.7 to 15.3 minutes, P<0.001) and women recovered sooner (0.48 days, 0.20 to 0.75 days, P<0.001), with fewer procedural complications. Indirect comparison suggested more unsatisfactory outcomes with second generation techniques than with hysterectomy (11% v 5%; odds ratio 2.3, 1.3 to 4.2, P=0.006). Similar estimates were seen when Mirena was indirectly compared with hysterectomy (17% v 5%; odds ratio 2.2, 0.9 to 5.3, P=0.07), although this comparison lacked power because of the limited amount of data available for analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

More women are dissatisfied after endometrial destruction than after hysterectomy. Dissatisfaction rates are low after all treatments, and hysterectomy is associated with increased length of stay in hospital and a longer recovery period. Definitive evidence on effectiveness of Mirena compared with more invasive procedures is lacking.

A comparison of bladder and ovarian function two years following hysterectomy or endometrial ablation

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that at two years bladder and ovarian function function are no different following either simple hysterectomy or endometrial ablation (transcervical resection/laser ablation).

DESIGN

Randomised controlled trial comparing hysterectomy with endometrial ablation. Two years after trial entry bladder and ovarian function were evaluated subjectively by means of questionnaires and objectively by means of cystometry and estimation of serum follicle stimulating hormone respectively.

SETTING

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

PARTICIPANTS

Tow hundred and four women with dysfunctional uterine bleeding who, when recruited to the initial study two years previously, were aged less than 50 years, weighed less than 100 kg, and who would otherwise have undergone hysterectomy.

RESULTS

Of the 204 women originally recruited, 101 re-attended the clinic and underwent cystometry and follicle stimulating hormone estimation. These, together with a further 59 women, completed postal questionnaires (79% of original cohort). Rates of stress incontinence (44% vs 44%, 95% CI of difference -16% to +15%), urge incontinence (21% vs 19% 95% CI of difference -11% to +14%), and hot flushes (30% vs 44%, 95% CI of difference -25% to +7%) were similar in the hysterectomy and endometrial ablation groups, respectively. Cystometry revealed 14 (31%) cases of bladder dysfunction after hysterectomy and 17 (35%) after hysteroscopic surgery (95% CI of difference -23% to +15%). Serum follicle stimulating hormone levels > 40 IU/L [corrected] were found in three (6%) women following hysterectomy and five (10%) of women after endometrial ablation.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that in comparison with endometrial ablation, simple hysterectomy for dysfunctional uterine bleeding does not compromise bladder or ovarian function, at least at two years after the operation. Due to lack of power the estimates of any differences are imprecise, and clinically significant effects cannot be ruled out.

Blood rheology and albumin excretion in diabetic pregnancy

Blood rheology is altered in diabetes and also in non-diabetic pregnant women. The cumulative effect of hyperfiltration, abnormal rheology of pregnancy, and diabetes could be one mechanism contributing to increased intraglomerular pressure and albuminuria in diabetic pregnancy. We conducted a prospective study of 22 Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients and 22 non-diabetic women to determine if there was an association of altered blood rheology on glomerular function in diabetic pregnancy. Albumin excretion showed no increment with increasing gestation and was similar in diabetic and non-diabetic women throughout pregnancy (first trimester: 5.0 (3.0-14.0) vs 5.8 (3.7-10.7) mg l-1, p = 0.89; second trimester: 6.0 (5.0-12.0) vs 5.1 (3.6-10.4) mg l-1, p = 0.25; third trimester: 7.5 (3.5-16.0) vs 4.9 (2.9-7.3) mg l-1, p = 0.18). Red cell aggregation index increased in both groups between the first and third trimesters (diabetic patients: mean difference 2.0; Cl: 1.0-2.9, p = 0.003, and control patients: mean difference 2.3, Cl: 1.0-3.5, p = 0.002). Fibrinogen levels were significantly higher between the third and first trimesters in diabetic patients (mean difference 0.7, Cl: 0.2-1.3 g l-1, p = 0.006). Pregnancy, therefore, was associated with increased red cell aggregation, related in part to increased fibrinogen levels but the extent of change was similar in diabetic and nondiabetic women and appeared to have no adverse effect on glomerular function in pregnant insulin-dependent diabetic women.