Laparoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of Symptomatic Uterine Fibroids (Halt)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00874029 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : April 2, 2009
Results First Posted : July 3, 2014
Last Update Posted : July 3, 2014
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Uterine Fibroids Uterine Myomas | Device: Halt Procedure | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 137 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Evaluation of the Halt System for Laparoscopic Treatment of Symptomatic Uterine Fibroids With Radiofrequency Ablation |
Study Start Date : | March 2009 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | January 2012 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | March 2014 |
Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Halt Procedure
In this single-arm study, subjects who have symptomatic uterine fibroids will have the Halt Procedure in which intra-abdominal ultrasound will guide RF ablation of uterine fibroids using the Halt System.
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Device: Halt Procedure
The Halt 2000 Electrosurgical Radiofrequency Ablation System is indicated for use in percutaneous, laparoscopic and intraoperative, coagulation and ablation of soft tissue.
Other Names:
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- Assessment of Menstrual Blood Flow (MBF) at 12 Months Post Procedure [ Time Frame: 12 months from Baseline ]Change in volume of menstrual blood loss at 12 months post-procedure compared to baseline. Bleeding relief and surgical reintervention were the co-primary endpoints. Bleeding relief success was defined for individual subjects as a ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in menstrual blood loss at 12 months posttreatment. The Primary Full Analysis Set was the primary analysis set for bleeding success rate.
- Incidence of Device and Procedure-related Adverse Events Within 12 Months Post-procedure [ Time Frame: 12 months ]An adverse event was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a subject who uses a medical device, regardless of the presumed relationship of the event to the study device. A serious adverse event is defined as an untoward medical occurrence that results in death, is life threatening, requires or prolongs hospitalization, results in persistent or significant disability or incapacity, or is a congenital anomaly or birth defect. Preexisting conditions (i.e., underlying diseases that were present before the adverse event reporting period began), re-intervention for failure to meet the study endpoints, and pregnancy were not reported as adverse events. All adverse events that occured during the study were recorded on the Adverse Event case report form (CRF). The investigator recorded the adverse event and assessed the relationship of the adverse event to the device and/or procedure; the coding of the events was reviewed by the Clinical Events Committee (CEC).
- Surgical Re-Intervention for Menorrhagia at 12 Months Post-treatment [ Time Frame: 12 months from Baseline ]Patients who had surgical reintervention for bleeding prior to 12 months follow-up. Surgical reintervention success was defined as no surgical reintervention for menorrhagia within the 12-month posttreatment period.
- Change in Uterine and Fibroid Volume at 12 Months Post-procedure Compared to Pre-procedure (Baseline) as Measured With Contrast-enhanced MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) [ Time Frame: 12 month from Baseline ]Evaluate change from baseline in uterine volume and fibroid volume at 12 months post-procedure as measured by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements. Specifically, the outcomes of uterine and fibroid volume changes are expressed as a mean percentage of volume reduction. Treatment with RFA resulted in a reduction from baseline in total uterine and fibroid volume, as assessed by pretreatment and posttreatment MRI, at 3 and 12 months posttreatment.
- Change in Fibroid Symptom Severity and Quality of Life Scores at 12 Months Post-procedure as Compared to Pre-procedure (Baseline) Using the Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Health Related Quality of Life (UFS-QoL) Assessment Tool. [ Time Frame: 12 months from Baseline ]
The Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Health Related Quality of Life (UFS-QoL) assessment tool measures symptom severity and Health related quality of life.
Symptom Severity (SS) - high scores indicate greater symptoms (bad) and low scores indicate less symptoms (good). Scores range from 0 to 100. Since this outcome measure indicates "change" in symptoms, a negative number indicates a reduction in symptoms and therefore improvement.
Health Related (HRQL) - high scores indicate better health state. Scores range from 0 to 100. Since this outcome measure indicates "change" in health and quality of life, a positive number indicates and improvement.
- Change in Score on Questionnaire - General Health Outcome at 12 Months Post-procedure as Compared to Pre-procedure Using the EQ-5D (a Standardized Instrument for Use as a Measure of Health Outcome) [ Time Frame: 12 months ]The EQ-5D is a standardized instrument with scores ranging from 0 to 100, for use as a measure of general health outcome, such as mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety and depression. An increase in the score post treatment indicates less disease burden.
- Overall Subject Treatment Outcome and Satisfaction Using the Overall Treatment Evaluation (OTE) [ Time Frame: 12 months ]The Overall Treatment Evaluation Survey refers to whether the patient felt symptoms improved, worsened or remained the same post treatment.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 25 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | Female |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Are premenopausal and ≥ 25 years old
- Have symptomatic uterine fibroids
- Have a uterine gestational size ≤14 weeks as determined by pelvic exam
- Have ≤ 6 (six) treatable fibroids in whom no single fibroid exceeds 7 cm in any diameter as measured by ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Only Fibroids greater than 1cm in diameter should be treated in this study
- Have a total uterine fibroid volume that does not exceed 300cc on ultrasound or contrast-enhanced MRI evaluation
- Have clinical menorrhagia as indicated by menstrual blood loss of ≥160 mL to 500 ml during one baseline cycle or two baseline cycles within three months prior to treatment
- Have a history of at least 3 months of menorrhagia within the last six months
- Desire uterine preservation
- Do not desire current or future childbearing
- Have a normal coagulation profile international normalized ratio (INR), Platelets, Prothrombin Time, and Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT)
- Have had a normal Pap smear within the past 12 months
- Are practicing non-hormonal or stable hormonal contraception
- If the woman is not currently taking any hormonal contraceptives, has been off all hormonal contraceptives for a minimum of three months prior to study enrollment, and agrees to continue without change in regimen through the 12 months of follow-up OR
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If the woman is currently taking hormonal contraceptives, has taken hormonal contraceptives for a minimum of three months prior to study enrollment, and agrees to continue without change in regimen through 12 months of follow up.**
**Note: Hormonal contraceptive use must be terminated 30 days prior to treatment but should be resumed post-operatively within 60 days post treatment as instructed by the Investigator.
- Are willing and able to comply with all study tests, procedures, and assessment tools
- Are willing and able to return for all required follow up visits following study enrollment
- Must pass a pre-operative health exam (ASA I-III)
- Are capable of providing informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Have contraindications for laparoscopic surgery and/or general anesthesia. (Contraindications include anemia, defined as a hemoglobin level under 10 or hematocrit level less than 30.)
- Have had prior pelvic surgery (with the exception of C-section, tubal ligation, or diagnostic laparoscopy), or are known to have significant intra-abdominal adhesions (defined as adhesions that would require extensive dissection to mobilize and view all surfaces of the uterus)
- Have previously undergone endometrial ablation, uterine artery embolization, or uterine artery ligation, or any other uterine-preserving technique for reduction of menstrual bleeding (with the exception of hysteroscopic myomectomy > 1 year ago)
- Patients requiring elective concomitant procedures
- Have contraindications for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Desire current or future childbearing
- Are pregnant or lactating
- Have taken any Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRh) agonist within three months prior to the screening procedures
- Have an implanted intrauterine or fallopian tube device for contraception that cannot or will not be removed one month prior to treatment
- Have dysfunctional uterine bleeding or bleeding between periods
- Have chronic pelvic pain not due to uterine fibroids
- Have known or suspected endometriosis
- Have known or suspected adenomyosis based on Ultrasound or MRI findings
- Have active or history of pelvic inflammatory disease
- Have a history of or evidence of gynecologic malignancy or pre-malignancy within the past five years
- Have had pelvic radiation
- Have a non-uterine pelvic mass
- Have a cervical myoma
- Have one or more pedunculated subserosal fibroids or "type zero" (completely intracavitary) submucous fibroids
- Are peri-menopausal (defined as women 40 years of age or older with Follicular Stimulating Hormone level of ≥ 25 International Units (IU) or menopausal
- Are unable to give informed consent
- In the medical judgment of the investigator should not participate in the study

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00874029
United States, Arizona | |
Women's Health Research | |
Phoenix, Arizona, United States, 85015 | |
United States, California | |
USC Medical Center | |
Los Angeles, California, United States, 90033 | |
Pasadena Premier Women's Health | |
Pasadena, California, United States, 91145 | |
Reproductive Science Center | |
San Ramon, California, United States, 94583 | |
United States, Michigan | |
Wayne State University | |
Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48034 | |
United States, Missouri | |
St. Luke's Hospital | |
Chesterfield, Missouri, United States, 63017 | |
United States, Nevada | |
Athena Gynecology Medical Group | |
Reno, Nevada, United States, 89509 | |
United States, New York | |
Montefiore Medical Center | |
Bronx, New York, United States, 10461 | |
United States, Pennsylvania | |
Magee-Women's Hospital | |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213 | |
Guatemala | |
Hospital Universitario Esperanza | |
Guatemala City, Guatemala, 01010 | |
Mexico | |
Hospital Universitario Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez de la Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon. Facultad de Medicina | |
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, 64460 |
Principal Investigator: | Mary Hinckley, MD | Reproductive Science Center | |
Principal Investigator: | Micah Harris, MD | Women's Health Research | |
Principal Investigator: | Erika Banks, MD | Montefiore Medical Center | |
Principal Investigator: | Karen R Abbott, MD | Athena Gynecology Medical Group | |
Principal Investigator: | Jay Berman, MD | Wayne State University | |
Principal Investigator: | Jose G Garza Leal, MD | Hospital Universitario Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez | |
Principal Investigator: | David Levine, MD | St. Johns' Mercy Medical Center | |
Principal Investigator: | Rodolfo Robles Pemueller, MD | Universidad Francisco Marroquín | |
Principal Investigator: | Jennifer Israel, MD | University of Southern California | |
Principal Investigator: | Richard S Guido, MD | Magee-Women's Hospital | |
Principal Investigator: | James Macer, MD | Pasadena Premier Women's Health |
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | Acessa Health, Inc. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00874029 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
CP-00-0004 |
First Posted: | April 2, 2009 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | July 3, 2014 |
Last Update Posted: | July 3, 2014 |
Last Verified: | June 2014 |
Uterine Fibroids Myomas |
Leiomyoma Myofibroma Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue Neoplasms, Connective and Soft Tissue |
Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms Neoplasms, Connective Tissue Connective Tissue Diseases |