Baptist DeSoto is first in the Mid-South to offer new fibroid treatment

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. –Dr. Charles Ryan, a practicing OB-GYN at Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto for 22 years, recently performed a first-of-its kind, minimally invasive uterine fibroid procedure, for the area.

The treatment, developed by Acessa, offers an alternative for women who would otherwise require a hysterectomy. The Acessa ProVu system procedure works by applying controlled heat directly into the fibroid. This causes it to shrink over time, changing in consistency from that of a baseball-like texture to that of a marshmallow.

"Previously, we didn’t have a lot of other options to shrink fibroids,” said Ryan. “This procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to recover at home and return to daily activities in three to four days, compared to six weeks with a hysterectomy.”

Uterine fibroids can cause pelvic, back or leg pain; prolonged periods; increased urination; and constipation. Fibroids are most common in women in their 40s and are relatively common, affecting 1 in 5 women in the United States.

“This new procedure is ideal for patients who don’t want to, or need to, have major surgery to shrink their uterine fibroids,” said Ryan.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto is a 339-bed hospital that offers a full range of quality inpatient and outpatient medical and health care services, including women’s, diagnostic, surgical and rehabilitation services, as well as open-heart surgery and other cardiovascular services. Baptist DeSoto has an expanded emergency department and an obstetrical emergency department. The American College of Cardiology has accredited the hospital as a chest pain center and for heart failure and its cath lab. Baptist DeSoto has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines — Stroke GOLD PLUS With Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite achievement award. The hospital received the 2021 QUEST Hero Award for its exemplary efforts to promote patient care and safety during COVID-19. For more information, please call 662-772-4000 or visit desoto.baptistonline.org.