Dr. Slonim explains why she chooses to use Embosphere Microspheres for her UFEs:
“We only use Embospheres. There have been times through the years when new products have come out, and we have trialed them because we do want to be sure that we’re always up to date on the best technology, but every time we’ve trialed something else we’ve been dissatisfied, and we’ve returned to the Embospheres.”
See Dr. Linda Hughes’ answer to this question.
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Dr. Slonim doesn’t believe in pain or suffering and will do her best to make sure you are comfortable. She explains exactly what will happen and how you will feel during the procedure from start to finish:
“So, before the procedure you’re probably going to be nervous. I’m going to give you medicine to make you relaxed before we go into the procedure. During the procedure you’re going to be asleep. You probably, you’ll have no memory of the procedure at all. After the procedure, my goal is for you to not have pain.
“I don’t believe in pain, I don’t believe in suffering, so I’m going to stand at your bedside, and have the nurse give you medicine until you’re asleep. You’re going to have one of those pumps where you push a button and it gives yourself a dose. So, I’ll give you enough medicine until you’re asleep, and then from that point on, you push the button you get a dose. I want you to sleep all afternoon.
“I’m going to tell your family members, who are there with you, that they’re going to be bored all day because you’re going to be asleep. As the day goes on to evening, you probably won’t need to push the button as often, you’ll be drowsy, you’ll be asleep, you’re not going to remember most of that afternoon.
“The following day your pain is going to be much better than it was during the whole afternoon of the procedure. You’ll probably have some nausea and you’ll go home the next day.”
See Dr. Linda Hughes’ answer to this question.
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85% to 95% of patients say they are very satisfied after having their UFE procedure. A lot of that satisfaction is attributed to well-communicated expectations about the procedure and symptoms between the doctor and patient. Dr. Suzanne Slonim agreed with this statistic concerning her own patients:
“Nearly invariably, yes they are. The patients are usually very satisfied. I think a lot of it is managing expectations. I go through very specifically how the procedure’s going to go, what they’re going to feel, what they’re going to experience and how long the symptoms are going to last and what to expect after the procedure.
So, most women, if you look nationwide through the literature, 85-95% of women are satisfied with the procedure.”
See Dr. Linda Hughes’ answer to this question.
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Often patients are referred for a UFE from their personal OB/GYNs. Dr. Slonim explains further:
“I get referrals from each of the hospitals that I work at and the OB/GYNs around those hospitals. But every now and then I’ll get some from North Dallas, East Dallas. The nature of this procedure and the fact that women often look on the internet to find out information about it means that they go to their physician asking about it, and then if the physician knows that we do a lot of these procedures she’ll usually send them to us.”
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Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a treatment that requires open communication between the patient, her interventional radiologist and her OB/GYN. To accommodate the patient’s needs and to make it as easy as possible for everyone involved, this is how Dr. Slonim coordinates care with her patients’ OB/GYNs.
“Usually if that question is being asked, it means that the OB/GYN has sent you to me. So after I meet you, and hear what the issues are, do a physical exam and evaluate if you’re a good candidate for the UFE procedure, I’ll then either send a consultation note, or get on the phone and talk to your OB/GYN and discuss the issues of the case, and how the decision is made of whether to proceed with the UFE procedure, or something else.”
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Dr. Suzanne Slonim, M.D. is an interventional radiologist in Dallas, Texas. She was trained at Stanford and has been practicing for over 14 years.
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