In vitro fertilization complicated by rupture of tubo-ovarian abscess during pregnancy

Post-hysteroscopy Ruptured Tubo-Ovarian Abscess With Atypical Bacteremia: A Case Report

Hysteroscopies are commonly performed in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with abnormal uterine bleeding. Current research suggests a low rate of all types of complications following hysteroscopies. The rate of infectious complications has been reported as exceptionally low. We present a case of tubo-ovarian abscess with Escherichia coli bacteremia and eventual abscess rupture in a 51-year-old gravida 3, para 2012 (G3P2) woman who underwent a hysteroscopy with concurrent polypectomy. The patient had no risk factors that have historically been attributed to the development of post-hysteroscopy infection, such as a history of pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis. The patient also had no known intra-operational complications that might predispose her to infection. Further, the patient's clinical presentation was significantly atypical. Despite having E. coli bacteremia on admission, severe abdominal pain, lack of an adequate response to several days of intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics, and eventually evidence of abscess rupture, the patient never met clinical criteria for sepsis, including a lack of leukocytosis. This case demonstrates a rare presentation of a rare complication and emphasizes the necessity of clinical vigilance in diagnosing and promptly treating gynecological infectious complications.

Pelvic inflammatory disease in pregnancy: a systematic review focusing on perinatal outcomes

BACKGROUND

Pelvic inflammatory disease during pregnancy is a rare and an understudied occurrence with potential negative outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of pregnant women with pelvic inflammatory disease with or without pelvic abscesses.

DATA SOURCES

We performed a systematic review of the literature using Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, and PubMed (including Cochrane) with no time limitations.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Relevant studies on pelvic inflammatory disease during pregnancy were identified and considered eligible if they described at least 1 case of pelvic inflammatory disease after conception, defined as infection in one or more of the following: uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries; based on clinical findings, physical examination, and imaging with or without pelvic abscesses present. Only studies on pelvic inflammatory disease with or without tubo-ovarian abscesses during pregnancy that evaluated perinatal outcomes were included. Data on the risk factors, delivery methods, and maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes were collected.

METHODS

Reviewers screened all relevant titles using the inclusion/exclusion criteria and selected relevant articles for appraisal. A total of 49 cases with reported pelvic inflammatory disease, pelvic abscesses, or both were included.

RESULTS

After exclusion of articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria, 34 manuscripts describing the occurrence of pelvic inflammatory disease in 49 pregnancies were analyzed, focusing primarily on cases reported after 1971. The mean age of patients was 25±6.3 years, the mean gestational age at diagnosis was 19.0±10.3 weeks, and 67.6% of patients were multiparous. Of all included patients, 27 (62.8%) underwent exploratory laparotomies, 14 (32.6%) underwent unilateral salpingo-oophorectomies, and 11 (25.6%) underwent appendectomies. Of all the deliveries, 13 (50%) pregnancies were full term, 14 (53.8%) were cesarean deliveries, 10 (38.5%) were spontaneous vaginal deliveries, and 2 (7.7%) were cesarean hysterectomies. There were 26 (60.5%) cases of viable births (mean gestational age at delivery, 33.8±5.1 weeks) and 17 (39.5%) cases of nonviable births. Sepsis was a complication in 3 (7.0%) cases and caused 3 neonatal deaths.

CONCLUSION

Although rare, pelvic inflammatory disease can have severe health consequences. Risk factors for pelvic inflammatory disease development include maternal pelvic structural anomalies, a history of sexually transmitted infections, recent pelvic surgery, and in vitro fertilization or oocyte retrieval. Pelvic inflammatory disease can coincide with pregnancy and can occur in the second trimester. Making a prompt diagnosis can help to improve the outcomes; therefore, if a high enough suspicion exists, treatment should not be delayed.

How to approach the rupture of tubo-ovarian abscess during pregnancy: A case report and literature review

We present the case of a 26-year-old multiparous woman who experienced rupture of a tubo-ovarian abscess during the second trimester of pregnancy. She presented with epigastric and right lower quadrant pain at 12 + 0 weeks' gestation. There were no other specific findings on the magnetic resonance imaging images. We recommended hospitalization to observe the changes in pain, but she refused confinement. About 3 weeks later, she revisited our emergency room at 15 + 4 weeks' gestation. She complained of worsening abdominal pain with fever. She underwent right salpingo-oophorectomy and appendectomy due to uncontrollable, severe abdominal pain without any obstetric abnormal condition. There was a rupture site in the right adnexa, which was covered with pus. The rupture of tubo-ovarian abscess during pregnancy is very rare. Therefore, obstetricians should carefully monitor the adnexal masses observed during pregnancy, which should be treated with caution, whether or not the patient is symptomatic.

Assisted Reproductive Technology as a Transcutaneous Route for Bacterial Contamination of Ovarian Endometrioma with Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Tubo-ovarian abscess may develop in women with endometrioma following assisted reproductive technology (ART). The infection, though rare, is typically late in onset and may present several months after the procedure, and in pregnancy—with the risks of abortion and premature labor. It is thought that transcutaneous oocyte retrieval during ART is the route for bacterial contamination resulting in infection of the endometrioma. Pathogens reported in the literature include Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Group B streptococcus (GBS) but Staphylococcus lugdunensis (S. lugdunensis), a coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CoNS), and groin and perineal skin commensal was isolated from the endometrioma in this case. We discuss the challenges in diagnosis and treatment of this rare condition and the implications of the discovery that an organism previously dismissed as a contaminant has emerged as a causative organism in severe, deep-seated infections of soft tissues in recent literature.

Recommendations for good practice in ultrasound: oocyte pick up†

STUDY QUESTION

What is good practice in ultrasound (US), and more specifically during the different stages of transvaginal oocyte retrieval, based on evidence in the literature and expert opinion on US practice in ART?

SUMMARY ANSWER

This document provides good practice recommendations covering technical aspects of US-guided transvaginal oocyte retrieval (oocyte pick up: OPU) formulated by a group of experts after considering the published data, and including the preparatory stage of OPU, the actual procedure and post-procedure care.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

US-guided transvaginal OPU is a widely performed procedure, but standards for best practice are not available.

STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION

A working group (WG) collaborated on writing recommendations on the practical aspects of transvaginal OPU. A literature search for evidence of the key aspects of the procedure was carried out. Selected papers (n = 190) relevant to the topic were analyzed by the WG.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS

The WG members considered the following key points in the papers: whether US practice standards were explained; to what extent the OPU technique was described and whether complications or incidents and how to prevent such events were reported. In the end, only 108 papers could be used to support the recommendations in this document, which focused on transvaginal OPU. Laparoscopic OPU, transabdominal OPU and OPU for IVM were outside the scope of the study.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

There was a scarcity of studies on the actual procedural OPU technique. The document presents general recommendations for transvaginal OPU, and specific recommendations for its different stages, including prior to, during and after the procedure. Most evidence focussed on comparing different equipment (needles) and on complications and risks, including the risk of infection. For these topics, the recommendations were largely based on the results of the studies. Recommendations are provided on equipment and materials, possible risks and complications, audit and training. One of the major research gaps was training and competence. This paper has also outlined a list of research priorities (including clarification on the value or full blood count, antibiotic prophylaxis and flushing, and the need for training and proficiency).

LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION

The recommendations of this paper were mostly based on clinical expertise, as at present, only a few clinical trials have focused on the oocyte retrieval techniques, and almost all available data are observational. In addition, studies focusing on OPU were heterogeneous with significant difference in techniques used, which made drafting conclusions and recommendations based on these studies even more challenging.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

These recommendations complement previous guidelines on the management of good laboratory practice in ART. Some useful troubleshooting/checklist recommendations are given for easy implementation in clinical practice. These recommendations aim to contribute to the standardization of a rather common procedure that is still performed with great heterogeneity.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS

The meetings of the WG were funded by ESHRE. The other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NA.ESHRE Pages content is not externally peer reviewed. The manuscript has been approved by the Executive Committee of ESHRE.

Assisted reproduction in endometriosis

Endometriosis - a disease causing pain and infertility - is encountered in nearly 50% of infertile women. While medical treatment is effective on pain and recurrence of symptoms after surgical excision, it is of no help for treating infertility for which the only options considered are surgery and ART. Surgery enhances the chances of conceiving naturally during the 12-18 ensuing months irrespective of the stage of the disease. Surgery however is of no help when ART is considered, as it does not improve outcome and can only harm the ovarian response to stimulation. Today therefore, ART is commonly the primary option to be considered in women whose infertility is associated with endometriosis and whose ovarian reserve is compromised and/or who are over 35 years of age. When, ART is envisioned it is best to opt for a segmented ART approach with agonist trigger, freeze all and deferred embryo transfer.

Complicated Clinical Course and Poor Reproductive Outcomes of Women with Tubo-Ovarian Abscess after Fertility Treatments

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess the clinical course and surgical and fertility outcomes of patients diagnosed with tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) after fertility treatment.

DESIGN

Parallel case series over 10 consecutive years (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

SETTING

Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, a tertiary university-affiliated hospital.

PATIENTS

Thirty-seven women who were diagnosed with TOA after fertility treatments (in vitro fertilization and intrauterine insemination) were compared with 313 women who were diagnosed with TOA not associated with fertility treatments during the same time period.

INTERVENTION

Medical records search, chart review, and phone survey were used to assess clinical course and surgical and reproductive outcomes.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Women with TOA after fertility treatments had significantly higher inflammatory markers upon admission compared with the nonfertility treatment group (mean white blood cell count, 16.1 × 1000/mm³ [standard deviation [SD], ±4.3] vs 13.8 × 1000/mm³ [SD, ±6.3], p = .001, respectively; and mean C-reactive protein, 149 mg/L [SD, ±78.3] vs 78.2 mg/L [SD, ±68.5], p = .001, respectively). In addition, TOA after fertility treatments was associated with a significantly higher surgical intervention rate and a more complicated clinical course, as evidenced by a shorter time interval from admission to surgery (2.1 days vs 3.2 days, p = .01), higher rates of antibiotic failure, higher conversion rate from laparoscopy to laparotomy (14.2% vs 3.2%, p = .005), increased perioperative complications rate (25.0% vs 3.8%, p = .0001), and a longer hospitalization stay (7.2 days vs 4.8 days, p = .01). Clinical pregnancy rate per cycle in women with TOA after fertility treatments was 9%, and 1 case of live birth was recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate that TOA after fertility treatment has a substantial effect on the clinical course and surgical outcome. Prophylactic antibiotic treatment before ovum retrieval and deferral of embryo transfer should be considered in patients at risk of infection.