Reducing Blood Loss During Myomectomy:Uterine Artery Ligation Vs Pericervical Tourniquet

April 10, 2026 updated by: ahmed nagy shaker ramadan, Cairo University

Bilateral Uterine Artery Ligation Versus Pericervical Mechanical Tourniquet Application in Reducing Intraoperative Blood Loss During Transabdominal Myomectomy.

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare two surgical techniques for reducing blood loss during transabdominal myomectomy in women with symptomatic uterine fibroids. The main question it aims to answer is whether bilateral uterine artery ligation reduces intraoperative blood loss more effectively than pericervical mechanical tourniquet application, without increasing operative complications. Researchers will compare bilateral uterine artery ligation with pericervical mechanical tourniquet application during open myomectomy to evaluate blood loss and surgical safety. Participants will undergo elective transabdominal myomectomy and will be randomly assigned to one of the two vascular control techniques before myoma enucleation.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Uterine fibroids are among the most common benign gynecologic tumors and may cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, pressure symptoms, infertility, and other reproductive problems. For women who desire uterine preservation, myomectomy remains an important treatment option. In patients with large, multiple, or deeply located fibroids, transabdominal myomectomy is still widely performed. However, one of its major challenges is significant intraoperative bleeding, which may increase operative difficulty, prolong surgery, increase postoperative morbidity, and raise the need for blood transfusion.

Several methods have been used to reduce bleeding during myomectomy. Among the commonly used surgical approaches are bilateral uterine artery ligation and pericervical mechanical tourniquet application. Bilateral uterine artery ligation reduces uterine arterial inflow before myoma enucleation and may provide sustained hemostasis during surgery. Pericervical tourniquet application is a simple mechanical method that temporarily compresses the uterine vessels at the cervico-isthmic level during the procedure. Although both techniques are used in practice, comparative evidence remains limited, and further evaluation is needed to determine the more effective and safe method for blood loss reduction during fertility-sparing surgery.

This study is a prospective, randomized, comparative clinical trial conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kasr Al-Ainy Hospital, Cairo University, Egypt. Women scheduled for elective transabdominal myomectomy for symptomatic uterine fibroids will be recruited and randomized into two parallel groups. One group will undergo bilateral uterine artery ligation before myoma enucleation, while the other group will undergo pericervical mechanical tourniquet application using a Foley catheter at the level of the internal os before myoma enucleation. All procedures will be performed by the same experienced surgical team under standardized perioperative conditions to reduce inter-operator variability.

During surgery, after the assigned vascular control technique is applied, myoma enucleation and uterine repair will proceed according to a standardized operative technique. Blood loss assessment will include intraoperative blood loss measured from surgical swabs and suctioned blood, as well as postoperative blood loss measured from the intraperitoneal drain. The trial is designed to determine whether bilateral uterine artery ligation provides superior hemostatic control compared with pericervical mechanical tourniquet application, while also evaluating perioperative safety and recovery outcomes.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
40

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Egypt
    • Al-Manial
      • Cairo, Al-Manial, Egypt, 11956
        • Recruiting
        • Cairo University
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

  • Inclusion Criteria:

    • Female participants aged 25 to 48 years
    • Body mass index less than 35 kg/m²
    • Symptomatic uterine myomas requiring surgical treatment
    • Intramural myomas classified as FIGO types 3 to 6
    • Diagnosis confirmed by transvaginal ultrasound and/or magnetic resonance imaging
    • Maximum diameter of the largest myoma 20 cm or less
    • Scheduled for elective transabdominal myomectomy
    • Able and willing to provide written informed consent

  • Exclusion Criteria:

    • Submucosal, intracavitary, pedunculated subserosal, cervical, or adnexal myomas
    • FIGO types 0, 1, 2, 7, or 8 myomas
    • History of pelvic inflammatory disease or peritonitis
    • Previous abdominal or pelvic surgery for non-obstetric causes
    • Previous uterine surgery
    • Use of hormonal therapy within the previous 3 months
    • Known bleeding disorder
    • Use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy
    • Preoperative hemoglobin less than 10 g/dL
    • Body mass index 35 kg/m² or greater
    • Intraoperative conversion from myomectomy to hysterectomy

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Bilateral Uterine Artery Ligation
Participants assigned to this arm will undergo transabdominal myomectomy with bilateral uterine artery ligation performed before myoma enucleation. The uterine arteries will be identified bilaterally near the level of the internal cervical os and ligated using absorbable sutures to reduce uterine blood flow during surgery. Myoma enucleation and uterine repair will then be completed according to the study protocol.
Procedure: Bilateral Uterine Artery Ligation
A surgical hemostatic procedure performed before myoma enucleation during transabdominal myomectomy to reduce uterine arterial blood flow and intraoperative bleeding. Bilateral ligation is carried out at the level of the internal cervical os using absorbable sutures as part of the assigned vascular control technique.
Other Names:
  • Uterine artery ligation
Experimental: Pericervical Mechanical Tourniquet
Participants assigned to this arm will undergo transabdominal myomectomy with application of a pericervical mechanical tourniquet before myoma enucleation. A sterile Foley catheter will be passed around the cervico-isthmic region at the level of the internal os and tied firmly to compress the uterine vessels during surgery. The tourniquet will remain in place throughout myoma enucleation and uterine repair and will be removed after completion of hemostasis.
Procedure: Pericervical Mechanical Tourniquet Application
A temporary mechanical vascular control technique performed before myoma enucleation during transabdominal myomectomy to reduce uterine blood flow and intraoperative bleeding. A sterile Foley catheter is placed around the cervico-isthmic region at the level of the internal os and removed after uterine repair and hemostasis are completed
Other Names:
  • Pericervical tourniquet
  • Foley catheter tourniquet

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Estimated blood loss
Time Frame: During surgery and until drain removal on the second postoperative day
Total blood loss measured as the sum of intraoperative blood loss and postoperative blood loss. Intraoperative blood loss will be assessed by weighing surgical swabs and measuring suctioned blood volume, while postoperative blood loss will be measured from the intraperitoneal drain.
During surgery and until drain removal on the second postoperative day

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Need for blood transfusion
Time Frame: From surgery until hospital discharge, assessed up to 3 days.
Number of participants requiring blood transfusion as an indicator of significant perioperative hemorrhage.
From surgery until hospital discharge, assessed up to 3 days.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Cairo University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Kafrelsheikh University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 10, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 10, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 10, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 2, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 10, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 10, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Cairo-MD-2026

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Blood Loss

Clinical Trials on Bilateral Uterine Artery Ligation

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings