05/15/2026
The UFE procedure experience: What’s your favorite music?
Surgeries and medical procedures can be stressful. Whether it’s anticipating pain, a new environment, unfamiliar people . . . this is a fairly ubiquitous experience. We counsel all our patients that the UFE procedure itself is a breeze. The procedure is not stressful, but rather the opposite. “I can’t believe how quick that was” “I didn’t know you even started” “Did I fall asleep?” are frequent comments from patients. Our team strives to make the entire experience as comfortable as possible for the patient.
This is something that can be achieved routinely in a dedicated outpatient center like RVC. Private recovery rooms, small dedicated staff, convenient parking a few feet from the front door, and good music (most importantly). This is nothing like being in a hospital.
The day of the UFE procedure, our patients are led to a private recovery room, have an IV placed in their arm, and receive some fluids and medications. Once in the procedure suite, you are lying down on your back, and our nurses and techs walk you through every step. We play music of your choosing (90s R&B has been the favorite lately) and give light sedation to keep you pain and anxiety free. You may close your eyes and snooze a little, or sing along to your favorite tune. Drs. McLaurin and Strife are both experienced interventional radiologists, and the procedure takes them 30 to 40 minutes from start to finish in most instances. Other than brief discomfort at the very start and very end of the procedure, there is virtually no discomfort or feeling during the actual UFE procedure. This is nothing like major or even minor surgery.
After the procedure, women recover for about 90 minutes with a family member, spouse, or friend at bedside. Then walk or roll down the hall to their car and on to home for recovery. No elevators, steps, or parking garages to navigate.
— Dr. Strife
