Gestación heterotópica triple: gestación gemelar intrauterina

Heterotopic pregnancy is increasingly common in Spain mainly due to the greater use of in vitro fertilization techniques. We report a case of heterotopic pregnancy after artificial insemination in a patient who consulted for mild metrorrhagia. Ultrasound examination showed a diamniotic dichorionic twin pregnancy and a singleton intrauterine gestation in the right tube. The case was resolved by laparoscopic unilateral salpingectomy. The symptoms of these rare pregnancies are nonspecific. Moreover, they are usually underdiagnosed, because the adnexa are not usually examined when an intrauterine gestational sac is found. Due to the severity of maternal and fetal compications, early diagnosis is essential.     

Gestación heterotópica espontánea

Heterotopic pregnancy is a rare clinical condition in which several pregnancies can coexist inside and outside the uterus. In recent years, the incidence of heterotopic pregnancy has increased due to assisted reproductive techniques. A high index of suspicion may help in the early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of this entity. We report a case of spontaneous heterotopic gestation in a 35-year-old woman who developed both an extra- and an intrauterine pregnancy diagnosed by ultrasound 10 weeks after the onset of amenorrhea.     

Gestación heterotópica en un embarazo espontáneo

Heterotopic pregnancy consists of simultaneous intra and extrauterine pregnancy. The incidence is low in spontaneous pregnancies, but these pregnancies are more common when assisted reproductive technologies are used; therefore, diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. We report the case of a 34-year-old woman with no history of interest and a spontaneous pregnancy, who presented with spotting and hypogastralgia. An ultrasound scan showed an intrauterine gestational sac and left adnexal mass consistent with ectopic pregnancy. As a heterotopic pregnancy was suspected, laparoscopic salpingectomy and curettage of the miscarriage were performed. Pathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis.     

Gestación heterotópica espontánea

Heterotopic pregnancy is the combination of intrauterine and ectopic pregnancy. This potentially fatal condition rarely occurs in spontaneous conception cycles and consequently its diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. We report a case of heterotopic pregnancy in a 30-year old primipara with no known risk factors who presented with acute abdominal pain due to a spontaneous heterotopic pregnancy. The ectopic pregnancy was resected via laparoscopy. After surgery, the intrauterine pregnancy was uneventful.     

Gestación heterotópica espontánea de 9 semanas con ambos embriones con actividad cardíaca positiva

Heterotopic pregnancy is defined as the presence of simultaneous pregnancies in distinct implantation sites. The incidence of spontaneous heterotopic pregnancy is estimated to be 1 in 30,000 to 50,000 pregnant women. We report a case of spontaneous heterotopic pregnancy in a 27-year-old woman, with two gestational sacs located in the uterus and left tube. Both embryos showed positive cardiac activity and a crown-to-rump length compatible with a 9-week pregnancy.     

Embarazo heterotópico espontáneo en pacientes con antecedente de embarazo gemelar familiar: 2 casos

Heterotopic pregnancy is the coexistence of an intrauterine pregnancy with an extrauterine pregnancy. There are two types: induced (associated with in vitro fertilization techniques, representing 1:1000 to 1:1,500 pregnancies) or spontaneous (1: 20,000 to 1: 80.000 pregnancies). Causal factors for spontaneous heterotopic pregnancies include pelvic inflammatory disease, use of hormonal or intrauterine devices, previous pelvic surgery and ectopic pregnancy. We report two cases of spontaneous heterotopic pregnancy in patients with a family history of twins.     

Embarazo heterotópico diagnosticado en una cesárea a término

The incidence of heterotopic pregnancy is increasing as a result of the greater use of assisted reproduction techniques. Early diagnosis is important because a ruptured ectopic pregnancy can be life threatening. We present an atypical case of extrauterine pregnancy diagnosed during the course of an elective cesarean section at term.     

Decidualización peritoneal y embolización de arterias uterinas en la hemorragia puerperal tras cesárea

Deciduosis peritonei consists of the presence of decidua in the peritoneal surface and develops during pregnancy due to the effect of progesterone. The typical lesions are highly vascularized and immunohistochemical studies are required to exclude a diagnosis of malignancy. Selective arterial embolization is a conservative procedure to treat postpartum hemorrhages with minimal side effects and allows fertility to be preserved. We present a case of severe deciduosis peritonei identified during a cesarean section in a patient who subsequently required embolization of the uterine arteries due to a postpartum hemorrhage.     

Entrecruzamiento de cordones en la gestación gemelar monocorial monoamniótica

Monochorial monoamniotic twins are at high risk of fetal death due to the general complications seen in multiple gestations, as well as those specific to this type of pregnancy. The most severe complication in these pregnancies is fetal death due to cord entanglement, which occurs in almost all cases.Early ultrasonographic diagnosis and intensive prenatal surveillance are essential for the early detection of cord entanglement and the prevention of fetal death.The need for in-hospital management and the exact gestational age for delivery continue to generate controversy in the literature.     

Influencia de la edad y de las técnicas de reproducción asistida en nuestros resultados obstétricos y perinatales

Objective

To evaluate the influence of age ≥ 40 years and ART in our obstetric and perinatal outcomes.

Material and methods

Retrospective study of 14805 singleton pregnancies in our Institute from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2006. We compared obstetric and perinatal outcome between: Age group: women ≥ 40 years (N = 557) vs. group of women < 40 years (N = 14248); ART group < 40 years: ART pregnancies (N = 1150) vs. spontaneous pregnancies (N = 13098); ART group ≥ 40 years: ART pregnancies (N = 126) vs. spontaneous pregnancies (N = 431).Results: Age ≥ 40 years is significantly associated with preterm birth under 34 weeks (odds ratio [OR] = 2.148 [1.237-3.730]), gestational diabetes (OR = 2.25 [1.799-2.815]), placenta previa (OR = 3.346 [1.516-7.386]), caesarean delivery (OR = 1.831 [1.539-2.177]), and peripartum hysterectomy (OR = 6.414 [1.359-2.177]). In the ART group < 40 years assisted conception (ART) is significantly associated with preterm birth under 37 (OR = 1.67 [1.337-2.088]) and 34 weeks (OR = 1.8 [1.162-2.822]), with gestational diabetes (OR = 1.5 [1.273-1.844]), pre-eclampsia (OR = 2.1 [1.456-3.164]), placenta previa (OR = 5.29 [2.973-9.437]), choriamniotic infection (OR = 3.8 [1.029-14.072]), caesarean delivery (OR = 1.5 [1.346-1.737]) and low birth weight ≤ 2500 g. (OR = 1.67 [1.329-2.114]) and ≤ 1500 g. (OR = 2.44 [1.442-4.135]). In the ART group ≥ 40 years we only find a significantly increased rate of caesarean delivery (OR = 1.76 [1.183-2.635]) in ART group vs. spontaneous pregnancy group.

Conclusions

Age ≥ 40 years increases the risk of adverse obstetric outcome. ART increase the risk of adverse obstetric and perinatal outcome in the group < 40 years, but not in the group of women aged 40 years and older, probably due to the small size of the sample.     

Embarazo abdominal secundario tras una esterilización tubárica

The ectopic pregnancy appears in the 10-12% of cases after tubal sterilization and it is usually located in the tube. 1% of ectopic pregnancies are abdominal and the implantation in omentum is a rare condition with only 16 described cases. According to Studdiford, they can be classified as primary or secondary depending on whether they are originated or not in the peritoneal cavity. We present the case of a secondary abdominal pregnancy located in omentum, in a woman with previous tubal sterilization, which has not been described to date; one is an abdominal pregnancy with origin in a tubal abortion, since trofoblastic invasion does not exist in omentum and there are remains of the same tissue in the right tube.     

Gestación multifetal yatrogénica

Multiple pregnancies spontaneously occur in one out of 90 pregnancies for twins and in one out of 8,100 for triplets. However, since the introduction of human reproduction units, there has been a 52% increase in twins, and a 404% increase in high-order pregnancies. Given the high perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality in these pregnancies, selective embryo reduction was developed to increase fetal survival and reduce long-term morbidity in neonates. Although effective, this procedure represents a technical and ethical challenge for the practitioner. Consequently, we believe that the most effective approach to multifetal pregnancies is primary prevention.     

Embarazo ectópico primario en epiplón. Reporte de caso

Abdominal pregnancy occurs in one out of 10,000 deliveries. Omental ectopic pregnancy is the least common of these pregnancies and diagnosis is generally made during laparotomy. We report the case of a 28-year-old woman, secundigesta, secundípara, who presented with menstrual delay, cutaneous-mucosal pallor, and severe abdominal pain. During laparotomy, the presence of omentum was observed in the pelvis and uterus. Both adnexa were normal. A tumor was found on the inferior border of the omentum. The tumor was removed and partial omentectomy was performed. A primary omental ectopic pregnancy was diagnosed.     

Papel de la inseminación intrauterina en la era de la fertilización in vitro

Intrauterine insemination is a low-complexity assisted reproduction technology in which previously washed sperm are deposited in the uterine cavity with ovarian stimulation. This invasive technique is well accepted by patients and achieves cumulative pregnancy rates similar to those obtained in a single cycle of more complex assisted reproduction techniques. We compared two methods of assisted reproduction: in vitro fertilization and intrauterine insemination in relation to their effectiveness and cost. We conclude that intrauterine insemination is the first-line treatment in male factor infertility without severe disruption or unexplained infertility; pregnancy can be achieved with 3 to 6 cycles in a high percentage of these cases at lower cost and with lower risk of multiple pregnancy than with in vitro insemination. We did not consider other techniques, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection, which is also indicated for the treatment of male factor infertility, since this technique requires greater technical and human resources, thus precluding comparison.     

Edema agudo de pulmón secundario a preeclampsia severa

Acute pulmonary edema is a rare and potentially fatal complication during pregnancy that has been reported to affect 0.08 to 0.5% of pregnancies. We report the case of a 28-year-old patient with a 35-week pregnancy who presented with shortness of breath, headache and epigastralgia. A diagnosis of acute pulmonary edema secondary to severe preeclampsia was made.     

Rotura de cuerno uterino rudimentario en gestación de 22 semanas. A propósito de un caso y revisión de la literatura

Unicornuate uterus with rudimentary horn is a rare Müllerian anomaly with a high incidence of obstetric complications, affecting 4.5% of women. Pregnancy located in the rudimentary horn occurs in 1 in 76,000 pregnancies with a risk of uterine rupture of 50-80%. Rupture usually occurs at the end of the second trimester of pregnancy. Early diagnosis reduces morbidity and mortality, but ultrasound diagnosis has a sensitivity of only 30%, due to the low prevalence of this entity.     

Gestación heterotópica espontánea. Diagnóstico ecográfico precoz y asintomático

Heterotopic pregnancy is a potentially fatal situation that rarely occurs in a natural conception. Diagnosis in the absence of symptoms is even more exceptional. Furthermore, due to the low index of suspicion of heterotopic pregnancy in natural conceptions, the incidence of serious clinical complications (hemoperitoneum, tubal rupture, acute abdomen) is greater in this group of patients.We report the case of a 33-year-old primigravida with a spontaneous pregnancy who attended her first prenatal visit at 6 weeks and 3 days of amenorrhea. The patient was asymptomatic. Vaginal ultrasound scan showed two gestational sacs, an intrauterine sac and an extrauterine sac next to the right ovary. A laparoscopic right salpingectomy was performed to remove the ectopic pregnancy. A healthy neonate was delivered at 38 weeks’ gestation without complications.Heterotopic pregnancy can be diagnosed after spontaneous conception, even in asymptomatic patients. It is important to carry out routine examination of the adnexae in the first ultrasound scan to exclude ovarian disease and diagnose (or exclude) the presence of asymptomatic heterotopic pregnancy.     

Amnioinfusión en rotura prematura de membranas en gestaciones pretérmino

Objective

To study the possibility of prenatal amnioinfusion as a therapeutic measure in premature rupture of membranes in preterm pregnancies.

Material and methods

We performed serialized transabdominal amnioinfusions in two patients with premature rupture of membranes in preterm pregnancy. Ringer's solution was instilled by abdominal puncture.

Results

We performed serialized transabdominal amnioinfusions until the 23rd week of pregnancy, after which time both patients showed normal amniotic fluid.

Conclusions

Transabdominal amnioinfusion is a valid therapeutic option in premature rupture of membranes in preterm pregnancy.     

Inserción velamentosa extrema de cordón umbilical, sin rotura de vasa previa

Velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord appears in one out of every 100 pregnancies and can prove life-threatening for the fetus. Consequently, prenatal diagnosis through ultrasound scanning is required, at least in women with a risk of vasa previa, such as those with multiple pregnancies, in vitro fertilization, or placenta previa, who will require an elective cesarean section.We present an extreme case of velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord, in which the vascular distribution was reminiscent of a bird's cage. Surprisingly, there was no vascular injury.     

Obstrucción intestinal durante la gestación

The present study describes three cases of intestinal obstruction in chronological order treated in our service in the last year. Although the reported symptoms were highly similar in all three patients, outcomes were very different. The interest of these cases lies in the low incidence of this complication during pregnancy and its high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis is essential to improve survival.