Laparoscopic management of a cornual ectopic pregnancy

There are various possibilities for treating cornual ectopic pregnancies, including medical approaches using methotrexate and surgical approaches using laparoscopy. This report describes the laparoscopic management of a large cornual ectopic pregnancy associated with a high -human chorionic gonadotropin level and reviews the techniques and outcomes of conservative treatment described in the literature.     

Laparoscopic management of cornual pregnancy without sutures

Introduction Cornual pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy. The incidence is reported as 3% of all ectopic pregnancies accounting 20% of deaths due to ectopic pregnancy. When an unruptured cornual pregnancy is diagnosed, there are a variety of management options. Many successful endoscopic management options for cornual pregnancy have been reported. Case report In this case, cornual resection was performed. Discussion The other possible treatment options were reviewed.     

Recurrent cornual pregnancy after heterotopic cornual pregnancy successfully treated with systemic methotrexate

This report concerns a recurrent spontaneous cornual pregnancy 2 years after selective feticide of a heterotopic cornual pregnancy which occurred after IVF for tubal pathology. The recurrent cornual pregnancy was treated successfully with systemic methotrexate. Assisted reproductive techniques, especially in patients with tubal pathology, and non-invasive management of cornual pregnancies may lead to a higher incidence of recurrence.     

Diagnosis and laparoscopic management of 11 consecutive cases of cornual ectopic pregnancy

Objective  To determine the pre-operative diagnosis by two dimensional ultrasound scan and the outcome of the laparoscopic management of cornual ectopic pregnancy. Design  Prospective database cohort study. Setting  Whipps Cross University Hospital, UK (District General Hospital). Patients  Eleven patients with cornual ectopic pregnancy presenting in our hospital between January 2003 and December 2007. Interventions  Laparoscopic cornuostomy or cornual resection. Outcome measures  Pre-operative diagnosis by ultrasound scan, conversion rate to laparotomy, successful laparoscopy (not requiring further treatment), complication rate and duration of hospital stay. Results  The mean gestational age was 8 ± 2 weeks. All 11 patients presented with abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding and two (18%) patients became haemodynamically unstable before laparoscopy. There were five (45%) patients with risk factors for ectopic pregnancy. The mean serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hcg) was15,263 ± 12,045 μm/ml. One patient did not have a transvaginal scan as it was decided to proceed to surgery on clinical grounds. The diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy was correct at initial scan in nine (90%) of the ten patients who had transvaginal scans as one patient was misdiagnosed at the first scan. However, an ectopic pregnancy was diagnosed on a second ultrasound scan assessment. Initial laparoscopy was negative in one of the nine patients diagnosed as having an ectopic pregnancy. The diagnosis was later confirmed following serial serum β-hcg monitoring, a repeat scan and a second laparoscopy. Ten (91%) of the 11 patients had successful operative laparoscopy as one (9%) patient had conversion to laparotomy. Among patients who had laparoscopic surgery, cornuostomy was performed in three (30%) patients while cornual resection was performed in the other seven (70%) patients. One (10%) of the patients who had laparoscopic surgery needed further treatment with systemic methotrexate. This patient had a cornual resection and was the only complication following laparoscopic surgery. The mean hospital stay was 2 days. Conclusion  This presentation of one of the larger series of patients with cornual ectopic pregnancy managed by laparoscopic surgery reveals that experience at ultrasonography and laparoscopic technique can lead to earlier diagnosis and few cases requiring laparotomy or further treatment. In addition laparoscopic surgery for cornual ectopic is safe and lends itself to conservative approach (cornuostomy) in selected cases.     

MRI and methotrexate in the management of a cornual ectopic pregnancy

Cornual ectopic pregnancies are rare but can be fatal. Use of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan has been reported in the diagnosis of a cornual ectopic pregnancy, but this is not commonplace. Intramuscular methotrexate is commonly used to treat cornual ectopic pregnancies; however, this is not recommended if the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) level is greater than 3,000 IU/l. We describe a case where MRI was used to make a diagnosis and intramuscular methotrexate was successfully administered at an HCG level greater than 3,000 IU/l.     

Laparoscopic management of second trimester ruptured cornual heterotopic pregnancy with subsequent live birth delivery: A case report and literature review

ObjectiveHeterotopic pregnancy (HP) is the coexistence of extra- and intrauterine gestation implantation sites. A rare case of a second-trimester ruptured cornual HP (CHP) treated with laparoscopic cornual resection with the primary repair is presented. Risk factors, clinical presentations, treatments, and outcomes of CHPs are also reviewed.Case reportA 35-year-old pregnant woman with CHP presented with lower abdominal pain with hemoperitoneum and her hemoglobin level dropped. Laparoscopic management of a ruptured HP was performed, leaving the surplus intrauterine fetus intact. She delivered a 2360 g male infant via cesarean section at 34 weeks’ gestation due to preterm premature rupture of membranes. We found a well-healed wound over the left uterine cornua during the cesarean section.ConclusionRuptured CHP is a rare but life-threatening complication of an obstetric emergency. Although the pregnant uterus becomes congested and fragile, using reliable laparoscopic energy devices and barbed sutures, successful treatment is feasible.     

Gestational choriocarcinoma arising from a cornual ectopic pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature

Introduction Gestational choriocarcinoma associated with ectopic pregnancy is an extremely rare event. We report a case of a choriocarcinoma arising from a cornual pregnancy. Case The patient is a 35-year-old G8 P2052 who was referred to our department due to failure of treatment for a suspected ectopic pregnancy. The patient had initially been treated with methotrexate injection but her β-hCG levels reached a plateau 3 weeks later and, despite another two methotrexate injections, started to rise. The patient underwent dilation and curettage that did not reveal any trophoblastic tissue. A diagnostic hysteroscopy that followed demonstrated occluded ostia of the left tube. The patient subsequently underwent diagnostic laparoscopy that revealed a mass in the left cornua, which was removed with wedge-wide resection. Histologic evaluation revealed choriocaricnoma. Discussion Appropriate monitoring of β-hCG titers following conservative management of suspected ectopic pregnancy is important, not only to diagnose persistent ectopic gestation, but also to rule out the presence of malignant trophoblastic disease, albeit the latter is a rare diagnosis.     

Laparoscopical management of cornual pregnancies: a report of three cases

Objective

Cornual pregnancy refers to the implantation and development of a gestation in one of the upper and lateral portions of the uterus; authors report their experience in laparoscopic therapeutic procedures on three singleton cornual pregnancies.

Study design

Three healthy women were admitted in General Hospitals with suspect of cornual pregnancies by clinical examination, increasing of β-hCG value and transvaginal ultrasonography. One of them had a haemoperitoneum. Surgeons performed all operative laparoscopies, by incision and enucleating of ectopic cornual mass, coagulating of its surrounding vessels and suturing of the uterine incision site.

Results

Patients were successfully treated only by laparoscopy, post-operative recovery period was normal in all women, with no further therapeutically intervention in the follow-up course. The aftermath was uneventful at the follow-up of 2 years.

Conclusion

In cornual pregnancies, the minimally invasive surgical treatment by salpingotomy or resection of the cornual region of the uterus and the suturing of the incision site, should be the option in women interested in future fertility.     

Treatment with methotrexate of a cornual pregnancy following endometrial resection

ABSTRACT

Objectives Endometrial resection is a procedure often performed for treatment of menorrhagia. Despite the fact that amenorrhoea frequently ensues, some normal endometrium can remain present and become the implantation site of a pregnancy. Such an event is uncommon (0.7%); however, the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy is increased. This case report calls the reader's attention to the risk of intra- and extrauterine pregnancies and the necessity for contraception after endometrial resection, even in cases where amenorrhoea supervenes.

Case A 46-year-old woman with prior endometrial resection and subsequent amenorrhoea, was diagnosed with a cornual pregnancy. She was successfully treated with systemic methotrexate, which was given in an outpatient clinic.

Conclusion Clinicians should be aware of the increased likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy after endometrial resection. All women submitting to this procedure should be counselled about the need for contraception, even in cases where amenorrhoea develops.     

Challenges in the diagnosis and management of interstitial and cornual ectopic pregnancies

Interstitial ectopic pregnancy is a term loosely used in the literature to describe three different entities. The first is the true interstitial ectopic pregnancy, which occurs in the interstitial or intramural segment of the Fallopian tubes. The term cornual ectopic pregnancy should be reserved for pregnancy in women with a single uterine horn, a bicornuate uterus, or a septate uterus. Angular pregnancy is a term that is rarely used and should be limited to a pregnancy in one of the angles of the uterus, but not inside the Fallopian tube.Historically, interstitial pregnancy was considered safe to manage conservatively until over 12 weeks because of the delayed risk of rupture as a result of the protection offered by the muscle of the uterus. However, over the last decade evidence now suggests that early rupture is not uncommon. The management of an interstitial pregnancy should be ascertained by ultrasonography, particularly three-dimensional ultrasonography. Depending on the size and viability of the pregnancy, management should be planned accordingly. Laparoscopic management is ideal for surgeons comfortable with the principles of laparoscopic surgery and suturing. However, laparotomy is a suitable alternative that will always provide a safe outcome. Adequate suturing of uterine cornua could prevent the risk of rupture during subsequent pregnancies. Minimizing blood loss during and after surgery is a priority.     

Cervical ectopic pregnancy after endometrial ablation: a case report

Case report A 44-year-old woman, with prior endometrial ablation, complaining of heavy vaginal bleeding was diagnosed with cervical ectopic pregnancy. Two doses of intramuscular methotrexate were administered as conservative treatment of the cervical pregnancy. Close follow-up in a dedicated early pregnancy unit allowed successful management on an outpatient basis. Conclusion The urine pregnancy test maintains a crucial role in the investigation of abnormal vaginal bleeding in a sexually active patient. Conservative management of a cervical pregnancy can reduce the potential morbidity and mortality associated with the surgical treatment option.     

Laparoscopic management of an ectopic pregnancy within a previous caesarean section scar

Ectopic pregnancy situated in a caesarean section scar is a rare but potentially life-threatening event. Because of its rarity there are no universal guidelines to manage this condition. We report a case of laparoscopic management of an ectopic pregnancy in a previous caesarean section scar. Laparoscopy enabled the successful treatment of an ectopic pregnancy, avoided unnecessary laparotomy and made it possible to preserve the patient’s reproductive capability. We discuss the management options and review the literature.     

A case of a cornual heterotopic pregnancy laparoscopically treated with the endoloop technique

Heterotopic pregnancy is defined as the coexistence of an intrauterine and an ectopic pregnancy. The estimated incidence is one in 30,000 spontaneous pregnancies, with a tenfold increase in women who underwent assisted reproductive technologies. Diagnosis of a heterotopic pregnancy is often delayed because of the presence of the intrauterine gestational sac. Treatment of a heterotopic pregnancy should consist of termination of the ectopic pregnancy without damaging the ongoing intrauterine pregnancy. The least invasive procedure should therefore be used. We present a case of a heterotopic pregnancy consisting of a viable intrauterine pregnancy and an ectopic cornual pregnancy. Because of the viable intrauterine pregnancy, we decided to treat the cornual pregnancy laparoscopically by the endoloop technique. This technique is simple, safe, effective and nearly bloodless. It offers a good prognosis for the ongoing intrauterine pregnancy.     

Laparoscopic management of ectopic pregnancy in the presence of a significant haemoperitoneum

Objective To assess the trend in the use of operative laparoscopy in the management of patients with ruptured ectopic pregnancy and significant haemoperitoneum. Method Four-year prospective observational study of the operative management of women with ruptured ectopic pregnancy and significant haemoperitoneum at the Whipps Cross University Hospital from January 2003 to December 2006. The inclusion criteria were patients with a clinical or laparoscopic assessment of significant haemoperitoneum (>800 ml). The amount of haemoperitoneum was determined at surgery. Results The blood loss ranged from 800 to 3,500 ml. The laparoscopic approach in this specific clinical scenario increased from 40% in 2003 to 100% in 2006. In 2003 there were five patients, two (40%) were treated by laparoscopy, one (20%) was converted from laparoscopy to laparotomy and two (40%) had laparotomy. In 2004 there were six patients, five (85%) underwent laparoscopic management and one (15%) had laparotomy. In 2005 we had 14 patients, ten (72%) had laparoscopic management, 2 (14%) were converted to laparotomy and 2 (14%) had laparotomies. There were12 patients in 2006 and all (100%) were treated by laparoscopy. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that with highly skilled anaesthetic and surgical teams, operative laparoscopy with its recognized advantages over laparotomy and is feasible in women with ruptured ectopic pregnancy and significant haemoperitoneum.     

Successful management of a cornual pregnancy with a single high-dose laparoscopic methotrexate injection

Cornual (interstitial) pregnancy, a very rare form of ectopic pregnancy, accounts for 2–4% of all tubal pregnancies in which conception is located in the proximal interstitial portion of the fallopian tube. Cornual resection by laparotomy is generally the preferred method of treatment, although more conservative approaches have also been described. We report a case of cornual pregnancy that was successfully treated with a single dose of 100 mg methotrexate injected into the mass of the ectopic cornual pregnancy. The serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) level decreased to undetectable levels on the 60th post-operative day.