Acessa Procedure: The Fibroid Treatment Collaborative's primary surgical therapy for uterine fibroids

The Fibroid Treatment Collaborative, with centers in Chicago, IL and Austin TX, announced today the adoption of the Acessa Procedure as its primary surgical therapy for patients suffering from uterine fibroids. Traditional surgical interventions, such as hysterectomy or myomectomy, involve long recovery periods and other minimally invasive solutions may only treat symptoms, not the fibroids.

"Fibroids are highly-symptomatic; causing heavy menstrual bleeding, pain and pressure, and we've been waiting for a better minimally invasive solution," said Abraham Shashoua, M.D., Director of the Fibroid Treatment Collaborative. "With Acessa, we can treat only the fibroids and resolve our patient's symptoms in a same day surgery that has a rapid recovery period."

The Acessa Procedure is a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure that delivers radiofrequency energy to destroy the fibroids. After treatment, the fibroid is re-absorbed by the surrounding tissue. Acessa allows the surgeon to treat only the fibroids, while preserving normal function of the uterus. Patients typically go home the same day with little pain, and enjoy a rapid return to normal activities. More than 300 women have been successfully treated with Acessa.

"More than 7.5 million women in the U.S. with symptomatic fibroids reject the surgical options available to them for treatment of uterine fibroids," said Jeffrey M. Cohen, Halt Medical CEO. "Hysterectomy is an over-used therapy that has many potential complications. Patients deserve an option that treats only the fibroids and allows them to get their lives back."