Women can now have painful growths treated quickly and easily and return home the same day following the introduction of a new treatment at East Suffolk and North Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT).
The Sonata system uses radio frequency to treat fibroids, which are non-cancerous growths that develop in the muscle layer around the womb. The most common pelvic tumour in women, uterine fibroids affect around 12-25% of those of a reproductive age and can cause heavy bleeding, pain and discomfort.
The new minimally invasive system gives women the chance to have their fibroids treated under local anaesthetic as an outpatient and return home the same day. Previously, large fibroids would have needed major surgery, which carries with it increased risks of complications such as bleeding and infection, together with a longer recovery time.
“We are delighted that we are now able to offer patients from across north Essex and east Suffolk this new, incision-free treatment for fibroids,” said Mr Fadi Alfhaily, consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology and service lead at Colchester Hospital.
“The procedure only takes around 30 minutes to complete and can be carried out in an outpatient clinic, which is great news as it frees up hospital beds for those who need to be admitted overnight.
“Before we started using this system, women with large fibroids would need either a hysterectomy or a myomectomy, both of which are major surgeries and would see the patient stay in hospital for several days and then spend the next 12 weeks recovering. With Sonata, patients recover within few days, which means they can get back to doing the things they enjoy more quickly.
“ESNEFT is already a centre of excellence for several gynaecological procedures, and we hope to build on that fantastic reputation still further with the introduction of this innovative new treatment.”
The new procedure is being offered at Colchester Hospital, but is also available to patients from the Ipswich area.
Back to top