Hysteroscopic Methotrexate Injection Under Ultrasonographic Guidance for Interstitial Pregnancy

Sonographic diagnosis of an interstitial pregnancy in an asymptomatic patient at 7 weeks' gestation

An interstitial pregnancy is an ectopic pregnancy located within the proximal intramural segment of the Fallopian tube traversing the myometrium. This type of ectopic pregnancy is relatively rare, occurring in approximately 1%-3% of all ectopic pregnancies. Given the myometrial mantle surrounding the gestational sac, which is considerably thicker than in other tubal pregnancies, patients with interstitial pregnancies classically manifest symptoms later in gestation. Thus, there is an increased risk of life-threatening intraperitoneal hemorrhage upon rupture of the myometrium encompassing the pregnancy. We present an unusual case of early sonographic diagnosis of an interstitial pregnancy in an asymptomatic patient at 7 and 3/7 weeks’ gestation, discuss predisposing factors, hallmarks of sonographic diagnosis, and review the literature regarding available clinical management modalities. With the increasing application of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) by emergency room physicians and other providers in outpatient facilities, our case emphasizes both the importance of correct sonographic identification of interstitial pregnancy and the clinical importance of uniform early first-trimester sonography, preferably no later than 7-8 weeks’ gestation.

Comparison of efficacies between ultrasound-guided curettage combined with hysteroscopic electro-resection after injection of pituitrin and hysteroscopic electro-resection after methotrexate chemotherapy in the treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy

To compare the efficacies between ultrasound-guided curettage combined with hysteroscopic electro-resection after injection of pituitrin and hysteroscopic electro-resection after methotrexate chemotherapy in the treatment of caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP). 60 patients with CSP admitted to our hospital were selected as the study subjects, and divided into observation group (n = 35) and control group (n = 25) in accordance with the therapeutic options. The observation group was treated with ultrasound-guided curettage combined with hysteroscopic electro-resection after injection of pituitrin, while the control group was treated with hysteroscopic electro-resection after methotrexate chemotherapy. The observation group was superior to the control group in the amount of intraoperative haemorrhage, in-hospital costs, and postoperative time to control vaginal haemorrhage, time to return to a normal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) level. The observation group had a lower incidence rate of adverse reactions (5.71% vs. 28.00%, p < .05) and a higher first-attempt success rate for treatment (85.71% vs. 84.00%, p > .05) compared with the control group. Ultrasound-guided curettage combined with hysteroscopic electro-resection after injection of pituitrin, exhibiting a higher efficacy, can more effectively shorten the postoperative recovery, reduce adverse reactions, and improve the postoperative quality of life in patients with CSP. IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP), a rare form of ectopic pregnancy where the fertilised egg is implanted in the muscle or fibrous tissue of the scar after a previous caesarean section (CS), is a long-term complication of CS that may be life-threatening for parturients. Some therapies have been used to treat CSP, such as uterine artery embolisation and uterine artery embolisation chemotherapy combined with curettage, but the potential adverse effects may affect the ovarian reserve and even affecting the fertility of patients.What do the results of this study add? This study showed that ultrasound-guided curettage combined with hysteroscopic electro-resection after injection of pituitrin, exhibiting a higher efficacy, can more effectively shorten the postoperative recovery, reduce adverse reactions, and improve the postoperative quality of life in patients with CSP.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The findings of this study may provide some references for the clinical practitioners and further research and may contribute to the treatment of CSP.

Guideline No. 414: Management of Pregnancy of Unknown Location and Tubal and Nontubal Ectopic Pregnancies

OBJECTIVE

To provide an evidence-based algorithm to guide the diagnosis and management of pregnancy of unknown location and tubal and nontubal ectopic pregnancy.

TARGET POPULATION

All patients of reproductive age.

BENEFITS, HARMS, AND COSTS

The implementation of this guideline aims to benefit patients with positive β-human chorionic gonadotropin results and provide physicians with a standard algorithm for expectant, medical, and surgical treatment of pregnancy of unknown location and tubal pregnancy and nontubal ectopic pregnancies.

EVIDENCE

The following search terms were entered into PubMed/Medline and Cochrane in 2018: cesarean section, chorionic gonadotropin, beta subunit, human/blood, fallopian tubes/surgery, female, fertility, humans, infertility, laparoscopy, methotrexate, methotrexate/administration & dosage, methotrexate/therapeutic use, pregnancy (abdominal, angular, cervix, cornual, ectopic, ectopic/diagnosis, ectopic/diagnostic imaging, ectopic/drug therapy, ectopic/epidemiology, ectopic/mortality, ectopic/surgery, heterotopic, interstitial, isthmo-cervical, ovarian, tubal, unknown location), recurrence, risk factors, salpingectomy, salpingostomy, tubal pregnancy, ultrasonography, doppler ultrasonography, and prenatal. Articles included were randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, observational studies, and case reports. Additional publications were identified from the bibliographies of these articles. Only English-language articles were reviewed.

VALIDATION METHODS

The authors rated the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. See online Appendix A (Tables A1 for definitions and A2 for interpretations of strong and weak recommendations).

INTENDED AUDIENCE

Obstetrician-gynaecologists, family physicians, emergency physicians, midwives, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, medical students, and residents and fellows.

SUMMARY STATEMENTS (GRADE RATINGS IN PARENTHESES)

RECOMMENDATIONS (GRADE RATINGS IN PARENTHESES).

Methotrexate injection for interstitial pregnancy: Hysteroscopic conservative mini-invasive approach

Background

Interstitial localisation of ectopic pregnancy is associated with high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality. Considering the rarity of interstitial pregnancy, the optimal treatment regimen remains unclear. We propose the management of interstitial pregnancy with local methotrexate injection using a combined hysteroscopic and ultrasonographic approach.

Technique

Hysteroscopy was performed under local anaesthesia in the operating room, using a 2.9-mm Hopkins II Forward-Oblique Telescope 30° endoscope with a 4.3-mm inner sheath and 5 FR instruments. A needle was pushed into the cornual region injecting methotrexate solution directly into the gestational sac and into the myometrial tissue tangentially at the four cardinal points. A contemporary transabdominal ultrasound (US) was performed in order to reduce risks of complications.

Experience

Five patients with an US diagnosis of interstitial ectopic pregnancy admitted to our department between January 2016 and September 2019 were managed with a local hysteroscopic injection of methotrexate. The technique was effective in all patients and no surgical complications occurred during or after the procedure. Three patients were evaluated for tubal patency with contrast ultrasonography confirming bilateral tubal patency 9 months from treatment, while one patient had a spontaneous birth 22 months from their initial surgery.

Conclusion

The hysteroscopic ultrasound-guided approach combined with the local injection of methotrexate is a minimally invasive conservative approach that seems to be promising in the management of interstitial ectopic pregnancy.

UTERINE RUPTURE IN THIRD TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY FOLLOWING CORNUAL RESECTION DUE TO ECTOPIC PREGNANCY

Uterine rupture during pregnancy is a critical obstetric complication associated with maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. The risk is increased in patients with a history of previous uterine surgery including cesarean section, myomectomy, salpingectomy, as well as uterine and placental anomalies and polyhydramnios. It can also occur spontaneously. We present a case of uterine rupture in the early third trimester in a woman who had undergone previous laparoscopic removal of the left fallopian tube due to sactosalpinx and laparotomic removal of left uterine horn due to ectopic pregnancy.

Directive clinique no 414 : Prise en charge des grossesses de localisation indéterminée et des grossesses ectopiques tubaires et non tubaires

OBJECTIF

Fournir un algorithme fondé sur des données probantes pour orienter le diagnostic et la prise en charge de la grossesse de localisation indéterminée et de la grossesse ectopique tubaire ou non tubaire.

POPULATION CIBLE

Toutes les patientes en âge de procréer. BéNéFICES, RISQUES ET COûTS: La mise en œuvre de la présente directive a pour objectif de bénéficier aux patientes ayant obtenu un résultat positif pour la sous-unité bêta de la gonadotrophine chorionique et de fournir aux médecins un algorithme normalisé pour l'expectative et le traitement pharmacologique ou chirurgical en cas de grossesse de localisation indéterminée et de grossesse ectopique tubaire ou non tubaire. DONNéES PROBANTES: Les termes de recherche suivants ont été entrés dans les bases de données PubMed-Medline et Cochrane en 2018 : cesarean section, chorionic gonadotropin, beta subunit, human/blood, fallopian tubes/surgery, female, fertility, humans, infertility, laparoscopy, methotrexate, methotrexate/administration & dosage, methotrexate/therapeutic use, pregnancy (abdominal, angular, cervix, cornual, ectopic, ectopic/diagnosis, ectopic/diagnostic imaging, ectopic/drug therapy, ectopic/epidemiology, ectopic/mortality, ectopic/surgery, heterotopic, interstitial, isthmo-cervical, ovarian, tubal, unknown location), recurrence, risk factors, salpingectomy, salpingostomy, tubal pregnancy, ultrasonography, doppler ultrasonography et prenatal. Les articles retenus sont des essais cliniques randomisés, des méta-analyses, des revues systématiques, des études observationnelles et des études de cas. Des publications supplémentaires ont été sélectionnées à partir des notices bibliographiques de ces articles. Seuls les articles en anglais ont été examinés. MéTHODES DE VALIDATION: Les auteurs ont évalué la qualité des données probantes et la solidité des recommandations en utilisant la méthodologie GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). Voir l'annexe A en ligne (tableau A1 pour les définitions et tableau A2 pour l'interprétation des recommandations fortes et faibles). PUBLIC VISé: Obstétriciens-gynécologues, médecins de famille, urgentologues, sages-femmes, infirmières autorisées, infirmières praticiennes, étudiants en médecine, résidents et moniteurs cliniques. DÉCLARATIONS SOMMAIRES (CLASSEMENT GRADE ENTRE PARENTHèSES): RECOMMANDATIONS (CLASSEMENT GRADE ENTRE PARENTHèSES).

Methotrexate for Cornual Ectopic Pregnancy

A 27-year-old pregnant female presented to the emergency department with pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding. At the time of diagnosis, she had an ectopic pregnancy in the right cornua 4 cm in size with a human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) value of 14,438 international units per mL. The ectopic pregnancy was initially managed by intramuscular methotrexate. However, after 10 days, despite an hCG value drop to 409 international units per mL, an indication that methotrexate was working, the patient had a subsequent rupture with hemoperitoneum necessitating exploratory laparotomy and abdominal hysterectomy.

Predictors of subsequent pregnancy in women who underwent laparoscopic cornuostomy or laparoscopic wedge resection for interstitial pregnancy

BACKGROUND

The ideal surgical procedure for interstitial pregnancy remains undetermined. The aim of this study was to assess whether surgical method is a factor in predicting subsequent pregnancy in women with interstitial pregnancy who underwent laparoscopic cornuostomy or laparoscopic wedge resection.

METHODS

Medical records of all women with interstitial pregnancy who underwent laparoscopic cornuostomy or laparoscopic wedge resection between March 2008 and October 2017 in a medical center were reviewed. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify factors predicting subsequent pregnancy.

RESULTS

Forty patients underwent laparoscopic cornuostomy (n = 14) or laparoscopic wedge resection (n = 26) for the treatment of interstitial pregnancy. Twelve women become pregnant during follow-up. Laparoscopic cornuostomy was associated with shorter operation time (coefficient = -19.1 minutes, 95% CI = -36.9 to -1.3 minutes, p = 0.04, multivariable analysis) than that of laparoscopic wedge resection. Furthermore, laparoscopic cornuostomy (hazard ratio = 6.3, p = 0.03), parity (hazard ratio = 0.18, p = 0.008), and preoperative rupture of the cornus (hazard ratio = 13.3, p = 0.005) were independent predictors of subsequent pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic cornuostomy was associated with a higher probability of subsequent pregnancy and a shorter operation time. Thus, compared with laparoscopic wedge resection, laparoscopic cornuostomy might be a better surgical procedure for women with interstitial pregnancy, particularly for women who wish to become pregnant later. However, because of the retrospective nature and small sample size of this study, some well-defined/designed prospective studies including more patients are needed to verify our results.

Successful treatment of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia in the uterine cornus with laparoscopic cornuostomy and postoperative methotrexate injection

OBJECTIVE

Management of cornual gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) has never been reported. Here, we describe the first case of cornual GTN.

CASE REPORT

A 32-year-old woman was diagnosed with left cornual GTN after evacuation of a complete mole. Laparoscopic cornuostomy was performed with intramural vasopression injection and barbed sutures. Histopathology revealed hydropic chorionic villi. Complete hydatidiform mole was diagnosed, and treated with adjuvant methotrexate, to address the poor decline of β-human chorionic gonadotropin levels during follow-up. The β- human chorionic gonadotropin levels declined to < 1 mIU/mL 9 months after cornuostomy. She successfully conceived 16 months after cornuostomy, and underwent cesarean section at 37 gestational weeks due to concomitant severe preeclampsia.

CONCLUSION

Cornual GTN can be successfully managed with laparoscopic cornuostomy and adjuvant methotrexate.