The association between congenital uterine anomalies and perinatal outcomes - does type of defect matters?

Septate uterus discovery during an emergency cesarean section in the North Eastern of the Democratic Republic of Congo: A case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Septate uterus is the commonest of congenital structural uterine anomaly with highest failure rate reproductive. It is secondary to incomplete resorption of the Müllerian duct during embryogenesis. Pregnancy in septate uterus carries with it maternal-fetal risk. The importance of this report is to provide data and encourage report of similar conditions in this region.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 25-Year-old, female booked G7P3A3 at 39 weeks and 4 days with history of miscarriages and preterm delivery for second, fourth and fifth pregnancies. She had an emergency cesarean section on the last one due to a contracted pelvis on a term pregnancy. Delivered a male baby of 3000 g, APGAR score of 9, 10, 10 respectively at the first, fifth and tenth minutes. Intraoperative findings revealed a partial septate uterus. The abdominopelvic cavity organs were anatomically normal.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Septate uterus is associated with adverse obstetric outcomes, like recurrent miscarriages, premature delivery, fetal malposition, intrauterine growth retardation, postpartum hemorrhage. 9-35 % of women with this malformation may experience infertility. Although the efficacy of septoplasty and preconception interventions has not been fully established in improving obstetric outcomes, in current medical practice these procedures are suggested.

CONCLUSION

Septate uterus as congenital uterus malformations, should be suspected in any women with obstetric complications high risk such as miscarriage, preterm delivery and malpresentation.

Obstetric outcomes of women with congenital uterine anomalies in the United States

BACKGROUND

Due to the rarity, congenital uterine anomaly type-specific evaluation of pregnant women has been relatively understudied.

OBJECTIVE

To describe national-level obstetric outcomes in women with congenital uterine anomalies.

STUDY DESIGN

This cross-sectional study queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Pregnant women with diagnosis of congenital uterine anomalies who had hospital delivery between 2016 and 2019 were examined. The World Health Organization's International Classification of Disease, 10th revision coding was used to delineate type of congenital uterine anomaly, diagnoses, and procedures performed during the index admission. Primary outcomes included pregnancy outcome, which was classified as full-term live birth, preterm live birth, abortion/stillbirth, or ectopic pregnancy. Secondary outcomes included obstetric comorbidities and severe maternal morbidity, which were compared between different subtypes of congenital uterine anomalies with multivariable logistic regression model.

RESULTS

A total of 50,180 pregnant women with congenital uterine anomalies were identified. Bicornuate was the most common subtype (73.5%), followed by arcuate (13.5%) and unicornuate (10.0%). 70.6% of women with congenital uterine anomalies had a full-term live birth, 26.8% had a preterm live birth, 2.1% had an abortion or stillbirth, and 0.4% had an ectopic pregnancy. 61.8% of preterm births occurred between 33 and 36 weeks, 16.9% between 30 and 32 weeks, and 21.3% at <30 weeks. There were 1,440 (2.9%) periviable births. The preterm (34.5%) and periviable (6.9%) birth rates were highest in the uterine didelphys group. Overall, two-thirds (65.7%) of patients with congenital uterine anomalies were delivered via cesarean section. When compared to arcuate uterus, risk of severe maternal morbidity in septate uterus (4.8% vs 2.6%, adjusted-odds ratio [aOR] 2.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.49-4.52) was increased, including hemorrhage (14.5% vs 7.7%, aOR 2.16, 95% CI 1.51-3.07). This was followed by uterine didelphys (4.2% vs 2.6%, aOR 1.75, 95% CI 1.24-2.47), unicornuate uterus (3.8% vs 2.6%, aOR 1.61, 95% CI 1.29-2.01), and bicornuate uterus (3.0% vs 2.6%, aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.04-1.47).

CONCLUSION

While the majority of patients with congenital uterine anomalies result in full-term viable deliveries, each subtype of congenital uterine anomalies confers different obstetric risks. Uterine didelphys was associated with the highest risk of preterm birth, while septate uterus was associated with the highest risk of severe maternal morbidity. While this hospital delivery dataset likely overrepresents bicornuate uteri, this populational data may help inform patients with congenital anomalies considering pregnancy. El resumen está disponible en Español al final del artículo.

Trial of labor following cesarean in patients with bicornuate uterus: a multicenter retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate whether a trial of labor after cesarean delivery (TOLAC) in women with a bicornuate uterus is associated with increased maternal and neonatal morbidity compared to women with a non-malformed uterus.

METHODS

A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted at two university-affiliated centers between 2005 and 2021. Parturients with a bicornuate uterus who attempted TOLAC following a single low-segment transverse cesarean delivery (CD) were included and compared to those with a non-malformed uterus. Failed TOLAC rates and the rate of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared using both univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Among 20,844 eligible births following CD, 125 (0.6%) were identified as having a bicornuate uterus. The overall successful vaginal delivery rate following CD in the bicornuate uterus group was 77.4%. Failed TOLAC rates were significantly higher in the bicornuate group (22.4% vs. 10.5%, p < 0.01). Uterine rupture rates did not differ between the groups, but rates of placental abruption and retained placenta were significantly higher among parturients with a bicornuate uterus (9.8% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.01, and 9.8% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.01, respectively). Neonatal outcomes following TOLAC were less favorable in the bicornuate group, particularly in terms of neonatal intensive care unit admission and neonatal sepsis. Multivariate analysis revealed an independent association between the bicornuate uterus and failed TOLAC.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that parturients with a bicornuate uterus who attempted TOLAC have a relatively high overall rate of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). However, their chances of achieving VBAC are significantly lower compared to those with a non-malformed uterus. Obstetricians should be aware of these findings when providing consultation to patients.

Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients with Obstructed Hemivagina Ipsilateral Renal Agenesis

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Obstructed hemivagina with ipsilateral renal agenesis (OHVIRA) is a rare congenital Müllerian anomaly. We sought to explore the impact of OHVIRA on pregnancy outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review identified 8 patients with an OHVIRA diagnosis and at least 1 documented pregnancy. Data collected included demographic characteristics, age at diagnosis and repair, gynecologic history, and pregnancy outcomes. Descriptive analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Twenty-three pregnancies were identified among the 8 patients (range 1-5 pregnancies per patient), resulting in 9 term births, 6 preterm births, and 8 first-trimester spontaneous abortions. The most common pregnancy complications were fetal growth restriction (2/15) and preeclampsia with severe features (2/15). The average gestational age at delivery was 37 2/7 weeks; however, 60% (9/15) of live births were at term. Two patients delivered after going into preterm labor, one of whom also had preterm premature rupture of membranes. Of the 15 live births, there were 10 cesarean deliveries, 4 vaginal deliveries, and 1 forceps-assisted vaginal delivery. Three patients (30%) underwent primary cesarean deliveries due to fetal malpresentation. Five live births were repeat cesarean deliveries, and 2 were unscheduled cesareans, at 34 and 36 weeks, due to preeclampsia with severe features.

CONCLUSION

This study is among the first to examine pregnancy outcomes in patients with OHVIRA. Among these patients, there were 23 total pregnancies, with higher incidences of spontaneous abortion, preterm birth, breech presentation, and cesarean delivery compared with the general population. This descriptive data set addresses a knowledge gap to help clinicians more effectively advise patients with OHVIRA about pregnancy outcomes.

Corrected evaluation of the breech presentation outcome based on etiology of this presentation in congenitally malformed uterus

Background

Breech presentation (BP) results from at random filling of the intrauterine cavity, with an equal probability for a BP or cephalic presentation (CP). Each fetus in BP has its "pair" in CP randomly assumed CP. Direct comparison of BP and CP makes bias to less expressed differences between these two groups. It is therefore necessary to subtract the number of fetuses/newborns from the CP set that are identical to the number of fetuses/newborns in the BP set, with identical characteristics, and add this group to the BP set before comparing them to the rest of the CP fetuses/newborns in the matching process.

Methods

The procedure encompasses nine variables in pregnancies with a congenitally malformed uterus (CMU) identified at the Department of Obstetrics (1985-2014): gestational age, birth mass, birth length, head circumference, shoulders circumference, umbilical length, placental weight, newborn mass/newborn length ratio, and newborn mass/placental mass ratio. Firstly, the probability of BP was determined and its relation to gestational age, physical characteristics, and previous presentations. Then direct comparison as well as case-control matching of the CP and BP were performed. Case-control matching was based on either a single specific variable (M1) or all combined variables (M2).

Findings

462 deliveries were identified with CMU. In 81 cases of multiparity, a fetal presentation was found to be an independent event regardless of the previous presentation, gestational age, and newborn physical characteristics. In four types of CMU with 337 deliveries (Bicornuate, Didelphys, Unicornuate, Arcuate), 9 variables with 36 instances of comparison were observed. M1 in 10 instances and M2 in 6 instances showed a statistically significant lower value of breech/random presentation compared with CP. CP have lower value in 2 instances in M1 and 1 in M2. Statistically significant differences were absent without the matching process.

Interpretations

The study confirms the maximum probability for the BP is 50%. The case-control matching procedure shows that it is able to detect the difference between the breech/random presentation and CP, while the classic method of direct comparison was unable to detect any differences. The outcome of the breech/random presentation in CMU should be evaluated with the described case-control matching procedure.

Perinatal outcomes of women with Müllerian anomalies

PURPOSE

To investigate the perinatal outcomes of singleton pregnant women with Müllerian anomalies (MuAs).

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on singleton pregnant women with MuAs who delivered at the West China Second University Hospital between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2020.

RESULTS

Four hundred fifty-seven cases of MuAs were identified, with an incidence of 0.40%. The most common anomaly was a septate uterus (38.7%). Compared to the control group, the MuAs group had significantly higher incidences of perinatal complications, including preterm deliveries (PTDs) (27.4 vs. 9.8%, P < 0.001), preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) (29.1 vs. 22.5%, P = 0.001), malpresentation (34.4 vs. 5.6%, P < 0.001), abruptio placentae (4.6 vs. 1.2%, P < 0.001), placental accreta/increta (19.7 vs. 11.8%, P < 0.001), and uterine rupture (2.8 vs. 1.6%, P = 0.035). The rates of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET), foetal growth restriction (FGR), and low birth weight were also significantly higher in the MuAs group (8.3 vs. 4.5%, P < 0.001; 2.6 vs. 0.9%, P = 0.001; 3.1 vs. 1.7%, P = 0.033, respectively). In the MuAs group, the incidence of PPROM was high in cases with unicornuate uterus (31.5%), and malpresentation was as high as 42.4 and 37.0% in cases with septate and didelphys uteri, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The data suggest that pregnancy with MuAs may increase adverse perinatal outcomes, which calls for intensive supervision during pregnancy and delivery to reduce maternal and foetal complications. Individualized considerations should be emphasized according to the different categories of MuAs in pregnancies.

Reproductive outcome in 326 women with unicornuate uterus

OBJECTIVES

To study the reproductive outcomes of women with a unicornuate uterus and compare them to those of women with no congenital uterine anomaly.

METHODS

This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study. Cases were women aged at least 16 years who were diagnosed with a unicornuate uterus on transvaginal/transrectal ultrasound between January 2008 and September 2021. Controls were women with no congenital uterine anomaly matched 1:1 by age and body mass index. The primary outcome was live-birth rate. Secondary outcomes were pregnancy loss (miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, termination of pregnancy), preterm delivery, mode of delivery and concomitant gynecological abnormalities (endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids).

RESULTS

Included in the study were 326 cases and 326 controls. Women with a unicornuate uterus had a significantly lower live-birth rate (184/388 (47.4%) vs 229/396 (57.8%); P = 0.004) and higher rates of overall miscarriage (178/424 (42.0%) vs 155/465 (33.3%); adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 2.21 (95% CI, 1.42-3.42), P < 0.001), ectopic pregnancy (26/424 (6.1%) vs 11/465 (2.4%); aOR, 2.52 (95% CI, 1.22-5.22), P = 0.01), preterm delivery (45/184 (24.5%) vs 17/229 (7.4%); aOR, 3.04 (95% CI, 1.52-5.97), P = 0.001) and Cesarean delivery (116/184 (63.0%) vs 70/229 (30.6%); aOR, 2.54 (95% CI, 1.67-3.88), P < 0.001). Rudimentary-horn pregnancies accounted for 7/26 (26.9%) ectopic pregnancies in the study group. Women with a unicornuate uterus were more likely to have endometriosis (17.5% vs 10.7%; P = 0.018) and adenomyosis (26.7% vs 15.6%; P = 0.001), but were not more likely to have fibroids compared with controls. Women with a functional rudimentary horn were more likely to have pelvic endometriosis compared to those without (odds ratio, 2.4 (95% CI, 1.4-4.1), P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnant women with a unicornuate uterus should be classified as high risk. Removal of a functional rudimentary horn should be discussed with the patient to prevent a rudimentary-horn ectopic pregnancy. © 2022 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.