A case report of ectopic pregnancy arising in a unicornuate uterus, accompanied by the undescended tube and ovary with double inferior vena cava

RATIONALE

The incidence of a unicornuate uterus is 0.2% to 0.3% of the whole population. A unicornuate uterus is closely associated with obstetrical complications such as early miscarriages, ectopic pregnancy, and malpresentation.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 32-year-old patient developed a rare ectopic pregnancy arising at a distal, fimbriated end of the undescended fallopian tube.

DIAGNOSES

A transvaginal ultrasound scan revealed hemoperitoneum and no gestational sac in the uterine endometrium. A laparoscopic finding showed that high up in the right abdomen, just below the liver, an ectopic mass could be seen arising at a distal, fimbriated end of the fallopian tube, which was developed adjacent to the undescended right ectopic ovary.

INTERVENTIONS

After laparoscopic removal of the right salpinx, we removed it with a bag.

OUTCOMES

One day after the operation, she was discharged without problems. Postoperative hysterosalpingography showed the unicornuate uterus with patent left and some right salpinx. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a unicornuate uterus, right ovary at the right inferior hepatic area, a bilateral normal kidney, and double inferior vena cava.

LESSONS

This is the first reported case of its type. It demonstrated that ectopic pregnancy may occur in the upper abdomen, not in the pelvic cavity, in uterine anomaly, and double inferior vena cava; hence, we must thoroughly check the whole abdominal cavity. Additional imaging tests are needed after treatment to see if there are any abnormalities.

Anesthetic efficacy of propofol combined butorphanol in laparoscopic surgery for ectopic pregnancy: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have suggested that propofol combined butorphanol (PB) has anesthetic effect in laparoscopic surgery (LS) for ectopic pregnancy (EP). But investigations of its potential effects are inconsistent. We will explore the current literature examining PB in LS for EP.

METHODS

We will perform a comprehensive search from MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Global Health, Web of Science, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from inception to the present. Other literatures, such as conference abstracts, references to the relevant reviews will also be checked. Two authors will check the titles, abstracts, and full texts independently. They will also independently carry out data collection and study quality assessment. We will conduct statistical analysis using RevMan 5.3 software.

RESULTS

This study will provide accurate results on the anesthetic effect and safety of PB in LS for EP.

CONCLUSION

This study will establish high-quality evidence of the anesthetic effect and safety of PB in LS for EP to facilitate the clinical practice and guideline development.

STUDY REGISTRATION NUMBER

INPLASY202040044.

[Abdominal ectopic pregnancy]

This review summarises the knowledge of abdominal ectopic pregnancy (AEP), which is a rare condition with higher morbidity and mortalilty than other types of ectopic pregnancies. The condition can be primary, if the pregnancy implants directly on to an abdominal site, or it can be secondary after a tubar abortion. AEP differs from tubal pregnancies by a normal level of human chorionic gonadotropin and rare vaginal bleeding, which causes a diagnostic delay. In an early pregnancy the treatment is laparoscopic removal, but in second and third trimester pregnancies laparotomy is preferred, if possible preceded by MRI for mapping of vascular involvement and location of placenta.

Bilateral simultaneous tubal pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

We present a rare case of peroperatively diagnosed bilateral tubular pregnancy.

DESIGN

Case report.

SETTING

Department of Obstetrics and Gynekology, Novy Jicin Hospital.

CONCLUSION

In the case of ectopic pregnancy always think about the possibility of contralateral pathology and during the surgical revision remember a thorough inspection of both fallopian tubes.

Intramural ectopic pregnancy following pelvic adhesion: case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Intramural pregnancy is an uncommon type of ectopic pregnancy, where the gestational sac is completely encircled by myometrium and unconnected with endometrial cavity, fallopian tubes or round ligament. Owing to its potentially life-threatening hemorrhage and uterine rupture, early diagnosis and management are urgently required. We present a case of a woman undergoing zigzag medical procedures, which featured non-consensus preoperative diagnosis of intramural and interstitial pregnancy and an intramural ectopic pregnancy ultimately confirmed and successfully removed by emergency laparoscopy. Additionally, we present a review of the related literature and discuss its varied clinical features, imageological characters, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and multiple treatments.

METHODS

A comprehensive bibliographic search through PubMed, using keywords: intramural ectopic pregnancy. Relevant literatures published from January 2013 to April 2019 were reviewed.

RESULTS

Twenty-four cases in total for intramural ectopic pregnancy including this report were reviewed. Diagnoses were mainly made by ultrasound images. Most patients had a history of uterine surgery or intrauterine operation and had been surgically resected. None of the mothers were in danger, but only one case had live birth at 37 weeks of gestation.

CONCLUSION

Non-specific clinical presentation and non-uniform ultrasound criteria pose a challenge for us to make timely and accurate management. Integrated radiological examinations and communication and cooperation between sonographers and gynecologists play a vital role in diagnostic accuracy and selecting the optimal therapeutic method of an intramural pregnancy.

The effect of salpingectomy on the ovarian reserve and ovarian response in ectopic pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Salpingectomy is routinely performed in ectopic pregnancy (EP). However, the effect of the surgery on the ovarian reserve and ovarian response in EP patients is still uncertain and has not been systematically evaluated. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to provide a comparison of the ovarian reserve and ovarian response between the pre-salpingectomy and post-salpingectomy in EP patients.

METHODS

Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for all relevant articles published up to December 2018. We retrieved the basic information and data of the included studies. The data was analyzed by Review Manager 5.3 software (Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK).

RESULTS

A total of 243 articles were extracted from the databases, and 7 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The ovarian reserve including anti-Mullerian hormone (inverse variance [IV] -0.7 [95% confidence interval [CI] -0.63, 0.49]), antral follicle count (IV 1.7 [95% CI -2.02, 5.42]) and basal follicle stimulating hormone (IV 0.02 [95% CI -0.63, 0.68]) was comparable between the pre-salpingectomy group and the post-salpingectomy group. The amount of gonadotropin was significantly higher in the post-salpingectomy group when compared with that in the pre-salpingectomy group (IV -212.65 [95% CI -383.59, -41.71]). There was no significant difference in the left parameters of the ovarian response including the duration of gonadotropin stimulation (IV -0.32 [95% CI -0.76, 0.12]), the estrogen level on the human chorionic gonadotropin triggering day (IV -4.12 [95% CI -236.27, -228.04]) and the number of retrieved oocytes (IV 0.35 [95% CI -0.76, 1.46]) between 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The current results suggest that salpingectomy has no negative effect on the ovarian reserve and ovarian response.

Effect of morphological type of extrauterine ectopic pregnancy on accuracy of preoperative ultrasound diagnosis

OBJECTIVES

To assess the overall accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) for diagnosis of all types of extrauterine ectopic pregnancy (EUEP) in a large group of women who were managed surgically. We also aimed to assess the positive predictive value (PPV) of TVS for each of the different ultrasound morphological types of EUEP.

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study of all pregnant women who underwent emergency surgery following ultrasound diagnosis of EUEP at a single early pregnancy unit between January 2009 and December 2017. The preoperative TVS findings were recorded, including the exact location and morphological type (Type I-V; defined using ultrasound criteria) of EUEP. TVS findings were compared with operative and histological findings. The performance of ultrasound in diagnosing EUEP overall and according to morphological type was assessed, using visual confirmation of ectopic pregnancy at surgery as the reference standard.

RESULTS

A total of 26 401 women presented with early-pregnancy complications during the study period, including 1241 (4.7%; 95% CI, 4.5-5.0%) women with a conclusive diagnosis of EUEP on TVS or a presumed diagnosis based on severe pain and significant hemoperitoneum. Surgery was performed in 721/1241 (58.1%; 95% CI, 55.3-60.8%) cases, of which 710 (98.5%; 95% CI, 97.6-99.4%) had a conclusive diagnosis of EUEP on preoperative TVS. The remaining 11 women had severe pain and significant hemoperitoneum and were managed surgically on clinical grounds as an emergency, without an ectopic pregnancy having been identified on ultrasound examination. At laparoscopy, the diagnosis of EUEP was confirmed in 706/710 (99.4%; 95% CI, 98.6-99.8%) women with a positive ultrasound diagnosis and in all 11 women with a presumed ultrasound diagnosis of EUEP. The PPV of preoperative ultrasound for the diagnosis of EUEP was 99.4% (95% CI, 98.6-99.8%) with sensitivity of 98.5% (95% CI, 97.3-99.1%). There was no statistically significant difference in the accuracy of preoperative ultrasound diagnosis between the five morphological types (P = 0.76).

CONCLUSIONS

The accuracy of preoperative ultrasound for diagnosis of EUEP is high. The morphological type of EUEP on TVS had no significant effect on the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Ruptured Cesarean Scar Pregnancy: A Case Report

Cesarean scar pregnancy is a rare variant of ectopic pregnancy where the fertilized ovum gets implanted in the myometrium of the previous cesarean scar. The incidence of Caesarean Scar Pregnancy among ectopic pregnancies is 6.1% and it is seen in approximately 1 in 2000 normal pregnancies. As trophoblastic invasion of the myometrium can result in uterine rupture and catastrophic hemorrhage termination of pregnancy is the treatment of choice if diagnosed in the first trimester. Expectant treatment has a poor prognosis and may lead to uterine rupture which may require hysterectomy and subsequent loss of fertility. We present a case report of a 24-year-old female G₂P₁L₁with ruptured cesarean scar pregnancy who underwent emergency laparotomy and subsequently hysterectomy. In this case report, we aim to discuss ruptured cesarean scar pregnancy as obstetric emergency and methods by which we can make an early diagnosis that it can be managed appropriately so as to prevent maternal morbidity and mortality.

Cesarean section scar ectopic pregnancy - a management conundrum: a case report

BACKGROUND

Cesarean section scar ectopic pregnancies are a rare complication of pregnancy that may follow previous hysterotomy for any cause, uterine manipulation, and in vitro fertilization. It has become more common with the increasing number of cesarean sections worldwide. Fortunately, the use of first-trimester ultrasound imaging has led to a significant number of these pregnancies being diagnosed and managed early.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of a 36-year-old black African patient who had two previous cesarean sections and one previous surgical evacuation. She presented with a type 2 cesarean section scar ectopic pregnancy that was suspected on the basis of transvaginal ultrasound imaging, but not at laparoscopy/hysteroscopy. A bladder adherent to the upper segment of the anterior uterine wall obscured the gestational mass at laparoscopy. There were extensive intracavitary adhesions that interfered with hysteroscopic visualization. This resulted in the original operative procedure being postponed until magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the ectopic location of the pregnancy. The ectopic gestation was subsequently excised, and the uterus was repaired via laparotomy.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important for clinicians and radiologists managing women with risk factors for a scar ectopic pregnancy to maintain a high index of suspicion during follow-up. Failure to diagnose and initiate prompt management may lead to uterine rupture, massive hemorrhage, and maternal death.

First Trimester Bleeding: Evaluation and Management

Approximately one-fourth of pregnant women will experience bleeding in the first trimester. The differential diagnosis includes threatened abortion, early pregnancy loss, and ectopic pregnancy. Pain and heavy bleeding are associated with an increased risk of early pregnancy loss. Treatment of threatened abortion is expectant management. Bed rest does not improve outcomes, and there is insufficient evidence supporting the use of progestins. Trends in quantitative ß subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) levels provide useful information when distinguishing normal from abnormal early pregnancy. The discriminatory level (1,500 to 3,000 mIU per mL) is the ß-hCG level above which an intrauterine pregnancy should be visible on transvaginal ultrasonography. Failure to detect an intrauterine pregnancy, combined with ß-hCG levels higher than the discriminatory level, should raise concern for early pregnancy loss or ectopic pregnancy. Ultrasound findings diagnostic of early pregnancy loss include a mean gestational sac diameter of 25 mm or greater with no embryo and no fetal cardiac activity when the crown-rump length is 7 mm or more. Treatment options for early pregnancy loss include expectant management, medical management with mifepristone and misoprostol, or uterine aspiration. The incidence of ectopic pregnancy is 1% to 2% in the United States and accounts for 6% of all maternal deaths. Established criteria should be used to determine treatment options for ectopic pregnancy, including expectant management, medical management with methotrexate, or surgical intervention.

Laparoscopic Management of an Intrauterine Fallopian Tube Incarceration After Curettage for a Non-progressing Pregnancy

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To report and demonstrate a case of a laparoscopic repair of an intrauterine fallopian tube incarceration as complication of curettage.

DESIGN

A step-by-step explanation of the surgery using video (instructive video) (Canadian Task Force classification III).

SETTING

University Hospital Estaing, Clermont-Ferrand, France.

PATIENT

A 29-year-old woman experiencing a nonevolving pregnancy at 8 weeks underwent curettage. After 9 months, she complained of abnormal vaginal discharge. Ultrasound evaluation showed a right parauterine mass. She reported a maternal medical history of ovarian cancer in a context of Lynch syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a right hydrosalpinx 12 mm in diameter, with a suspect fimbriae lesion of the tube and a 7-mm endometriosis nodule of the uterine torus.

INTERVENTION

We decided to explore the fallopian tube by laparoscopy and to perform hysteroscopy. A fallopian tube incarceration was suspected during hysteroscopy: a defect of the uterine wall was observed, through which there was protrusion of a tubal fimbriae. The laparoscopic view of the pelvis confirmed incarceration of the right fallopian tube through the uterine wall. It was carefully extracted out of the uterine defect, and the uterine wall defect was repaired with an X-point using Monocryl 1.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

A tubal patency test was performed, which was positive on both sides. Because phimosis responsible for the hydrosalpinx had been treated, salpingectomy was not performed.

CONCLUSION

Curettage for miscarriage or undesired pregnancy is not exempt from complications, such as hemorrhage, simple perforation, and infection. Intrauterine fallopian tube incarceration is uncommon but can affect fertility. This diagnosis is important to avoid destruction of the fimbriae and necrosis of the tube and also to reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy.

New ultrasound grading system for cesarean scar pregnancy and its implications for management strategies: An observational cohort study

A cesarean section pregnancy (CSP) indicated the gestational sac (GS) implanted in the previous cesarean scar. The clinical manifestations of CSP present a wide range of variations, and the optimal management is yet to be defined. We retrospectively enrolled 109 patients with the diagnosis of CSP from our department and categorized them into four grades based on the ultrasound presentation. Grade I CSP indicated the GS embedded in less than one-half thickness of the lower anterior corpus; and grade II CSP represented the GS extended to more than one-half thickness of overlying myometrium. Grade III CSP implied the GS bulged out of the cesarean scar; and grade IV CSP denoted that GS became an amorphous tumor with rich vascularity at the cesarean scar. Seventy-eight women received surgery, and the complication rate was 14.1% (11/78). Linear regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between the invasiveness of the surgery and their ultrasound gradings. The mainstream operation for grade I CSP was transcervical resection, while the majority of grade III and IV patients required hysterotomy or hysterectomy. Another 31 women received chemotherapy with methotrexate as their initial treatment. The success rate for chemotherapy was 61.3%; the remaining patients required further surgery due to persistent CSP or heavy bleeding during or after chemotherapy. Fifteen patients (48.3%) receiving chemotherapy suffered from complications (mostly bleeding). Among them, 7 (22.6%) patients experienced bleeding of more than 1,000 mL, and 9 (29.0%) of these 31 patients required blood transfusions. Our novel ultrasound grading system for CSP may help to communicate between physicians, and determine the optimal surgical strategy. Chemotherapy with methotrexate for CSP is not satisfactory and is associated with a higher rate of complications.

The value of 3-dimensional color Doppler in predicting intraoperative hemorrhage for cesarean scar pregnancy

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography and 3D color power Doppler ultrasound in the management of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP).A case-control study enrolled 190 CSP patients who underwent uterine artery embolization (UAE) in combination with dilatation and curettage (D&C). The maximum diameter of gestational sac or CSP mass, uterine scar thickness, and resistance index (RI) were measured by 2D ultrasound. The lesion volume, vascular index (VI), flow index (FI), blood vessels, and blood flow index (VFI) were assessed by 3D ultrasound. The changes of these parameters before and after UAE were analyzed. Then, the patients were divided into bleeding group and control group according to the intraoperative hemorrhage during D&C to access and compare the significance of 2D and 3D parameters in intraoperative hemorrhage.The mean VI and the mean VFI were significantly reduced after embolization (P < .01). In the bleeding group, the lesion volume and diameter of gestational sac or CSP mass were significantly larger, VI and VFI were significantly higher, the uterine scar thickness was thinner, and RI was lower (P < .05). The best indicator for prediction of massive intraoperative bleeding was the VI with an area under the curve of 0.870, the best cut-off value of VI was 7.500, and the sensitivity and specificity were 88.2% and 82.4%, respectively. In comparing the receiver operating characteristic curves among 2D and 3D ultrasound parameters, the diagnostic efficacy of lesion volume was significantly higher than maximum diameter (P < .001). The diagnostic efficacy of VI was significantly higher than maximum diameter (P = .020) and RI (P = .011).UAE reduces the number of vessels and the blood flow perfusion obviously; however, it does not reduce lesion size or increases myometrial thickness. Three-dimensional ultrasonography and power Doppler, especially VI, lesion volume may be helpful in predicting excessive bleeding during D&C after UAE.

Combined laparoscopic and hysteroscopic management of cesarean scar pregnancy with temporary occlusion of bilateral internal iliac arteries: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

Cesarean scar pregnancy is a rare event that carries a risk of heavy hemorrhage and emergency hysterectomy. Many treatment modalities have been reported, but with no consensus. Here we report a case of combined laparoscopic and hysteroscopic treatment with temporary occlusion of the bilateral internal iliac arteries.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 28-year-old woman presented with amenorrhea diagnosed as an 11-week cesarean scar pregnancy after an unsuccessful abortion. The patient's serum human chorionic gonadotropin level was 40,542 mIU/mL. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass measuring 5 × 4.5 cm over the anterior uterine isthmus.

DIAGNOSE

Type III cesarean pregnancy.

INTERVENTIONS

Diagnostic and operative laparoscopy were performed to remove the pregnancy tissue and repair the scar dehiscence after temporary occlusion of the bilateral internal iliac arteries, followed by hysteroscopy to confirm no pregnancy remnants and to free intrauterine adhesions.

OUTCOMES

Intraoperative and postoperative bleeding were minimal. The postoperative recovery was uneventful. Human chorionic gonadotropin normalized after 3 weeks.

LESSONS

Temporary occlusion of the bilateral internal iliac arteries seems to be a good strategy to reduce hemorrhage in cesarean scar pregnancy. Hysteroscopy is necessary to deal with intrauterine lesions.

A case of retroperitoneal para-aortic ectopic pregnancy detected by sonography

Retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy is extremely rare. We present a case of a retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy with a gestational sac located to the left of the abdominal aorta and of the left renal vessels at 9 weeks of gestation. Careful transabdominal sonographic examination is suggested when an ectopic pregnancy is suspected and the examination of the pelvis is negative.

Ruptured caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy: a diagnostic dilemma in a resource-limited setting

BACKGROUND

Caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) remains a very rare form of ectopic pregnancy associated with serious life threatening obstetric complications and even death in case of late diagnosis and treatment.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of a ruptured caesarean scar pregnancy in a 29 year-old gravida 5, para 3 with a past obstetric history of two consecutive caesarean sections done 9 and 5 years ago respectively. The patient presented with intermittent lower abdominal pains on a 20 weeks gestation associated with mild epigastralgia and 2 previous episodes of mild pervaginal bleeding (2 and 1 months ago respectively before consultation) managed with injectable progesterone. Her evolution 4 h later was marked by an increase in the intensity of the abdominal pain, an unmeasurable blood pressure and a feeble pulse. Immediate paracentesis revealed 10 cc of fresh non coagulating blood. The diagnosis of ruptured ectopic pregnancy with abundant hemoperitoneum was considered and an emergency laparotomy with fluid and blood resuscitation was carried out. A midline laparotomy revealed a ruptured caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy with an abundant hemoperitoneum. Careful resection of the placenta and repair of the ruptured isthmic region of the uterus was carried out. Recovery after surgery was without complications and the patient was discharged on the 6th day following surgery.

CONCLUSION

Caesarean scar pregnancy remains a very rare obstetric condition. Late diagnosis of this condition can be associated with serious life threatening obstetric complications. The rarity of the condition warrants a high index of suspicion among clinicians.

Secondary pregnancy by an implant in a laparoscopic trocar site: A case report

RATIONALE

For nearly 20 years, laparoscopy has been generally regarded as the gold standard for the surgical treatment of ectopic pregnancy and its application is very widespread. According to our knowledge, secondary pregnancy at the laparoscopic trocar site has not yet been reported until now.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 24-year-old Chinese female patient is reported herein. Her left fallopian tube was removed via laparoscopy due to a first ectopic pregnancy. Her postoperative blood β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) was increasing with irregular vaginal bleeding. The patient was initially regarded as having an old ectopic pregnancy.

DIAGNOSES

Secondary pregnancy by an implant in a laparoscopic trocar Site.

INTERVENTIONS

Because of secondary pregnancy at the laparoscopic port site, laparoscopic surgery was performed again 32 days after the first operation. Approximately 1000 milliliters (mL) of free intraperitoneal hemorrhage and active bleeding of the lesion were detected. Histopathologic examination confirmed the lesion was the result of pregnancy with visible villous tissue.

OUTCOMES

Her blood β-hCG gradually declined to a normal range in 28 days after the second operation. Menstruation occurred on day 20 after the second operation, and the duration and quantity were normal.

LESSONS

Although laparoscopy has many advantages, secondary pregnancy at the laparoscopic trocar port wound caused the patient enormous physical and mental pain and increased the medical costs. The etiology of secondary ectopic pregnancy at the laparoscopic puncture site was mainly an iatrogenic factor. Therefore, the procedure should be standardized to avoid its occurrence.

Uterine Artery Embolization Combined with Dilation and Curettage for the Treatment of Cesarean Scar Pregnancy: Efficacy and Future Fertility

PURPOSE

To investigate the efficacy and safety of uterine artery embolization (UAE) followed by dilation and curettage (D&C) as a treatment for cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) and to assess pregnancy outcomes after the treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 33 CSP patients treated with UAE followed by D&C. The serum level of beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) normalization, hospitalization, menstruation, and successful pregnancy after treatment was assessed as clinical and pregnancy outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 33 patients were initially treated without severe complications. However, four patients required additional systemic chemotherapy. β-hCG normalization took 35.5 ± 14.9 days (range 13-79), and the hospitalization was 6.5 ± 2.5 days (2-15). All patients resumed normal menstruation after 36 ± 19.2 days (12-86). Of 16 of 33 patients who desired pregnancy after the treatment, seven patients (43.8%) had uneventful parturition.

CONCLUSIONS

UAE combined with D&C was efficient and safe for CSP management. This minimally invasive procedure may be considered as one of the treatment options which enable preservation of fertility after treatment.

Menstruation recovery in scar pregnancy patients undergoing UAE and curettage and its influencing factors

This study aims to investigate the menstrual recovery outcome of scar pregnancy patients who received uterine artery embolization combined with curettage, and its influencing factors.The data of 119 patients with scar pregnancy, who received uterine artery embolization combined with curettage between December 2012 and December 2016 in Henan Provincival People's Hospital, were collected. The menstruation recovery of these patients was followed up, and factors that have influence on menstrual blood volume were analyzed using SPSS V.17.0.Follow-up data were available in 101/119 (84.9%) women. The median follow-up time was 22.7 months (range: 1.6-50.6 months); 58 (57.4%) patients had reduced menstrual blood volume, and 2 patients (2%) had amenorrhea. The proportion of patients with reduced menstrual blood volume, who were embolized with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), PVA combined with gelatin sponge, and gelatin sponge between < and ≥33 years old was 41.7% versus 66.7%, 40% versus 57.1% and 60.6% versus 68.0%. The average age of patients with reduced menstrual blood volume (34.3 years) was greater than patients with normal menstrual blood volume (31.4 years), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = .07).Reduced menstrual blood volume can occur in scar pregnancy patients who received uterine artery embolization combined with curettage. The influence of the embolic agent PVA on menstrual blood volume depends on age, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Uterine artery embolization combined with local infusion of methotrexate and 5- fluorouracil in treating ectopic pregnancy: A CONSORT-compliant article

BACKGROUND

To compare the efficiency and safety of uterine artery embolization (UAE) combined with local infusion of methotrexate (MTX) or MTX and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy (EP).

METHODS

One hundred women with EP were prospectively enrolled from December 2012 to February 2015 and randomly allocated into 2 groups. One group was treated with UAE combined MTX, and the other with UAE combined with MTX and 5-FU. Local MTX was administrated at a dose of 80 to 120 mg, based on the initial β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) levels, and 5-FU was given intra-arterially at a uniform dose of 0.5 g.

RESULTS

Bilateral UAE was successfully performed in all 100 patients, 88 of whom were clinically successfully treated, 45 (91.8%) in the MTX group, and 43 (87.8%) in the MTX + 5-FU group; 89% of the patients achieved normalization of β-HCG below 70,000 mIU/mL within 14 to 21 days postoperatively. The time to successful β-HCG resolution was 26.74 ± 5.57 days for patients receiving MTX + UAE treatment, and 27.57 ± 5.08 days for those treated with additional 5-FU. Six patients had subsequent intramuscular injections of MTX and 6 had a unilateral salpingectomy after the treatment failure. Mild immediate side effects accounted for 24.5% in the sole MTX and 58.3% in MTX + 5-FU group.

CONCLUSION

A combination of UAE and intrauterine infusion of MTX showed comparable efficiency to UAE combined with a local infusion of MTX and 5-FU in treating EP patients with the intention to preserve fertility.

Ectopic pregnancies: a retrospective cohort analysis in a tertiary reference center in the Northeast Region of Brazil

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with ectopic pregnancy admitted to a tertiary center in the Northeast Region of Brazil and the aspects related to the treatment and outcomes in these women.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study of 101 patients diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy between February 2016 and February 2017.

SETTING

Assis Chateaubriand Maternity School, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil Methods: The data collected included demographic characteristics, gynecological-obstetric history, symptoms at admission, complementary examinations [chorionic gonadotropin (&#946;-hCG) blood test, transvaginal ultrasound, and hemoglobin level], and treatment given.

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 28 ± 6.6 years (14-48 years). Abdominal pain (96%) and vaginal bleeding (82.4%) were the most prevalent symptoms. No risk factors were identified in most of the patients (53.5%), whereas the most frequently identified risk factor (16.9%) was a history of previous ectopic pregnancy. At admission, 63.4% of patients presented ruptured ectopic pregnancy and 5.9% had hemodynamic instability. Among the patients with ruptured ectopic pregnancy, 61% had already sought care at another center. With regard to the therapeutic options, 78.2% underwent surgery (27.2%, laparoscopy), 16.8% used methotrexate (MTX), and 5% underwent expectant management. Among those who received MTX, 41.2% needed subsequent surgery because of elevated blood &#946;-hCG level (57.1%) and clinical signs of ruptured ectopic pregnancy (42.9%).

CONCLUSION

The patients were admitted at an advanced stage of ectopic pregnancy, which made a more conservative and less costly treatment difficult. However, the outcomes were clinically satisfactory, with low complication rates and no maternal deaths. Keywords ectopic pregnancy, methotrexate, epidemiology, laparoscopy, laparotomy.

Ectopic pregnancy 6 years after subtotal hysterectomy: A case report

BACKGROUND

Only 57 cases of ectopic pregnancy after hysterectomy have been published.

CASE REPORT

A 34-year-old patient with a history of subtotal hysterectomy for postpartum hemorrhage consulted for acute abdominal pain. The diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy was made using blood pregnancy test and transvaginal ultrasound. Emergency laparoscopy was performed.

CONCLUSION

Urine pregnancy test should be performed in case of unexplained haemoperitoneum in patient of childbearing age with a history of hysterectomy. Fistulous tracts between the patent cervix or the vaginal cuff and the peritoneal cavity may allow fecundation. TEACHING POINTS: (1) Ectopic pregnancy remains a differential diagnosis of abdominal pain and haemoperitoneum in patient of childbearing age even after hysterectomy. (2) Fistulous tract between the residual cervix and the peritoneal cavity or tubes may allow fecundation.