Delayed intra-abdominal bleeding following trans-vaginal ultrasonography guided oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization in patients at risk for thrombo-embolic events under anticoagulant therapy

Severe Hemoperitoneum After Oocyte Retrieval Due to Ovarian Hemorrhage Possibly Caused by Violent Cough Under General Anesthesia With Propofol and Pentazocine: A Case Report and Literature Review

Oocyte retrieval is an invasive procedure for patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART). Complications regarding oocyte retrieval are rare; however, once they occur, patients often require hospitalization and, could in some cases, lead to life-threatening situations.

We report a case of severe hemoperitoneum due to ovarian hemorrhage after oocyte retrieval. A 39-year-old patient wanted to have a second child and received ART treatment because of severe male infertility. Oocyte aspiration was performed under intravenous anesthesia with propofol and pentazocine. She suddenly coughed and violently moved her body while the puncture needle was inside the ovary. After increasing the propofol dose, the coughing subsided and oocyte retrieval continued. Five hours following oocyte retrieval, she revisited the clinic with severe abdominal pain. Transvaginal ultrasonography revealed echogenic findings in the Douglas’ pouch; 300 mL of blood was aspirated by puncture of the Douglas pouch. She was transferred to our hospital because of suspected severe hemoperitoneum. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed hematoma formation in the right ovary with a small amount of extravasation. Laparoscopic surgery revealed extensive hemoperitoneum due to right ovarian hemorrhage. The right ovary was enlarged to the size of a fist and contained a clot; the bleeding was due to a tear in the cortex of the ovary. The partially torn ovarian tissue was excised; hemostasis was performed using a bipolar device. The body movement caused by violent coughing during oocyte retrieval may have led to increased laceration at the ovarian puncture site.

Although cough during general anesthesia using propofol and pentazocine is very rare, physicians and staff should be aware of the high risk of intra-abdominal hemorrhage when such complications occur.

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.