Heterotopic Caesarean scar pregnancy combined with intrauterine pregnancy successfully treated with embryo aspiration for selective embryo reduction: case report

Ectopic pregnancy situated in a Caesarean section scar is a rare but potentially life-threatening event. Because of its rarity, there are no universal treatment guidelines to manage this condition. We report a case of IVF-induced triplet heterotopic pregnancy of early gestational age that included one Caesarean scar pregnancy diagnosed as early as 6 weeks gestation. Treatment with embryo aspiration under vaginal ultrasonography for selective embryo reduction was given and the concurrent intrauterine twin pregnancy was preserved successfully.     

Heterotopic pregnancy after IVF-ET: report of a case and a review of the literature

A case of heterotopic, intrauterine and tubal ectopic pregnancy is reported, following in-vitro fertilization and transfer of four 4-cell embryos. The literature on the subject is reviewed and the possible aetiological factors, as well as the clinical essentials for early pre-operative diagnosis are discussed.     

Pregnancy: Heterotopic pregnancy obtained after in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer following bilateral total salpingectomy: case report

Heterotopic (coexistent ectopic and intra-uterine) pregnancyis common following in-vitro fertilization and multiple embryotransfer. Total bilateral salpingectomy is generally consideredto eliminate the risk of ectopic, and hence heterotopic pregnancy.This is, however, not strictly correct as it does not eliminatethe risk of interstitial tubal pregnancy. This is the firstreported case of a heterotopic pregnancy following total bilateralsalpingectomy. The diagnostic pitfalls and a suggested methodof avoiding them are discussed.     

Simultaneous bilateral tubal pregnancy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Since the advent of assisted reproductive technology, the concernabout ectopic implantation of embryos has increased dramatically.Simultaneous bilateral tubal pregnancy is the least common typeof ectopic implantation of two embryos. In this report we presentthe first case of simultaneous bilateral tubal pregnancy afterintracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and embryo transfertreatment. The present case had no risk factor for ectopic pregnancy.Therefore, for early diagnosis and management of such cases,close clinical follow-up and routine ultrasonography followingICSI are necessary.     

Successful management of a heterotopic Caesarean scar pregnancy: potassium chloride injection with preservation of the intrauterine gestation: case report

Caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP), in which the pregnancy is located in the scar of a previous Caesarean section, is a rare situation that carries a high risk of uterine rupture. Improved ultrasound imaging allows early diagnosis of this condition, but there is no standard management. We report the first case of CSP associated with a normal intrauterine pregnancy. Potassium chloride administered under transvaginal ultrasonographic guidance terminated cardiac activity in the CSP. The CSP resolved, and a healthy infant was delivered at 36 weeks. When the diagnosis is early and the patient asymptomatic, surgery can be avoided, the CSP can be terminated selectively and the intrauterine pregnancy thereby preserved.     

Heterotopic pregnancy associated with gamete intra-fallopian transfer.

Recent reports in the literature have focused on the increased risk of heterotopic pregnancy after the transfer of multiple concepti or oocytes. In an international collaborative patient registry between 1985 and 1989, 601 clinical pregnancies resulted from 2092 gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) retrieval cycles. Five of the pregnancies were heterotopic (0.83%). After surgical intervention, all five cases of combined gestation resulted in live birth from intrauterine pregnancies. Routine vaginal ultrasonographic examination of the adnexa in patients who conceive after GIFT may help early diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy. If the diagnosis is made early, conservative treatment may preserve the future fecundity of the patient and more intrauterine pregnancies may be salvaged.     

Methotrexate therapy of tubal pregnancy

Reports of successful treatment of ectopic pregnancies by administrationof methotrexate have recently attracted a great deal of attention.This review summarizes the results of therapy with methotrexatein tubal pregnancy. Different technical approaches and pharmacologicaldoses have been reported. These methods, however, present variousproblems, including the occurrence of toxicity, long therapeuticperiods and treatment failure. With proper selection of patients,a success rate of 90% has been achieved. Preliminary assessmentof subsequent fertility provides promising results. However,the majority of the reports do not include controls.     

Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and combined intrauterine and tubal pregnancy after in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and hetero-topic pregnancyare two well recognized entities occurring after in-vitro fertilization(TVF). This is the first reported case of a severe OHSS andcoexistent heterotopic pregnancy after FVF and embryo transfer.Diagnosis of tubal pregnancy was obscured both by stimulatedovaries which prevented accurate ultrasound definition and thecoexistence of an intrauterine pregnancy which accounted forhuman chorionic gonadotropbin (HCG) concentrations and alsofor aggravation of the OHSS. The roles of transvaginal ultrasound,diagnostic laparoscopy and early paracentesis in the managementof this rare complication of assisted reproductive technologiesare discussed.     

Successful non-surgical management of a heterotopic abdominal pregnancy following embryo transfer with cryopreserved-thawed embryos.

Heterotopic pregnancy is an increasingly common complication of assisted reproductive technology. Abdominal pregnancy is a rare and life-threatening form of ectopic pregnancy that can present as the extrauterine portion of a heterotopic pregnancy. We present the case of a cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer that resulted in a simultaneous intrauterine and abdominal pregnancy first recognized at 10 weeks gestation. Ultrasound-guided transvaginal injection of potassium chloride into the abdominal pregnancy resulted in asystole and spontaneous resorption of the ectopic fetus, while the intrauterine pregnancy continued and resulted in a liveborn vaginal delivery at full term. Selective embryo reduction using a non-surgical approach in a haemodynamically stable patient can therefore be considered in the management of heterotopic abdominal pregnancy if diagnosed relatively early.     

The forgotten child--a case of heterotopic, intra-abdominal and intrauterine pregnancy carried to term.

Heterotopic pregnancies are estimated to be less frequent than one in 30,000 if no assisted reproduction technologies are performed. Here we report a case which occurred in Tanzania. An abdominal pregnancy at term was first misdiagnosed as an ovarian tumour and diagnosed on the first post-partum day of the intrauterine fetus, which was delivered spontaneously. The abdominal pregnancy was then treated by laparotomy and removal of the placenta. The fetus was alive and healthy. The follow-up of the twins was normal.     

Falloposcopic comparison of unilateral and bilateral proximal tubal ocdusive disease

The purpose of this study was to compare the appearance of theentire length of the oviductal canal in women with unilateralversus bilateral proximal tubal occlusion. Eleven women hadapparent unilateral disease and 18 had apparent bilateral occlusion.Proximal occlusion was confirmed both by hysterosalpingographyand laparoscopy. Falloposcopic examination was performed byretrograde visualization using the linear eversion catheter,in office. Bilateral apparent proximal occlusion was found tohave a significantly higher incidence of actual proximal occlusionand distal intralumenal abnormalities. However, five proximalsegments and six distal segments were found to be abnormal wherethe pre-examina-tion diagnosis was unilateral occlusion. Furthermore,the contralateral oviductal canal was found to be abnormal infour women with apparent unilateral disease, indicating thatapparent unilateral proximal tubal occlusion is associated withactual pathology. These data demonstrate the value of intralumenalassessment of apparent proximal occlusion.     

Pregnancy: Combined intra-uterine and extra-uterine pregnancy in the contralateral tube after gamete intra-Fallopian transfer

A case of combined intra-uterine and contralateral tubal pregnancyafter gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) is presented. Laparotomywith partial tubal resection was performed after tubal rupture.The intra-uterine pregnancy is still ongoing without complications.Heterotopic pregnancies are dangerous conditions for the patientand should be taken into account after transfer of multipleoocytes. To our knowledge this is the first report of a heterotopicpregnancy in the contralateral tube after GIFT.     

Intrauterine pregnancy after treatment of tubal pregnancy with local and systemic prostaglandins in a patient with a single oviduct.

A spontaneous intrauterine pregnancy occurred after instillation of prostaglandin-F2 alpha into the solitary tube and systemic prostaglandin administration for treatment of an ectopic gestation. This is the first unequivocal proof of intact function of the affected tube after non-surgical treatment of a tubal pregnancy with prostaglandins.     

Multiple pregnancy after in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer: report of a quadruplet pregnancy and delivery

The first baby from in-vitro fertilization (IVF) was born in England in 1978 as a result of retrieval of a single preovulatory oocyte in the course of a natural cycle (Steptoe and Edwards, 1978). At present most programmes of IVF throughout the world do not use natural cycles producing only one oocyte, but rather multiple oocyte cycles produced by clomiphene citrate (CC), human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG), or pure follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), either separately or in combination, sequentially or concomitantly, for the induction of multiple follicular maturation.     

Transcervical tubal cannulation and falloposcopy for the management of tubal pregnancy.

This is the first report of transcervical salpingoscopic visualization of tubal pregnancy in two patients. The falloposcope was introduced through a catheter used routinely for transcervical tubal cannulation, guided by tactile impression. We have previously demonstrated that it is possible to diagnose and treat tubal pregnancies via a transcervical intra-Fallopian cannula. Falloposcopy could help select appropriate patients for transcervical intra-Fallopian therapy by verifying the site of implantation and the characteristics of the ectopic pregnancy.     

Unsuspected pregnancy at hysterosalpingography: a report of three cases with different outcomes

We report three cases of unsuspected pregnancy during hysterosalpingography (HSG) with different outcomes. In the first two cases, menstrual history was wrongly relied upon and no pregnancy tests had been performed. However, even with a negative pregnancy test carried out prior to the investigation, as in the third case, this was proven not to be foolproof. The outcome of our pregnancies involves one ectopic, one miscarriage and one normal term pregnancy. We advocate not relying solely on menstrual history and to be aware that even in cases where there is a negative pregnancy test before HSG, the patient can still be pregnant. Although the reporting of unsuspected pregnancy during HSG is rare, there is still a need to be alert, especially in high-risk patients with irregular, long menstrual cycles and unprotected intercourse prior to the investigation.     

Successful pregnancy after in-vitro fertilization and transmyometrial embryo transfer in a patient with congenital atresia of cervix: case report.

A case report of a patient with congenital cervical atresia diagnosed at the age of 24 years is given. The attempts to create a neocervix were unsuccessful. Since no signs of retrograde menstruation or haematometra were observed, in agreement with the patient hysterectomy was not performed. At the age of 32 years, a successful pregnancy was achieved after an in-vitro fertilization and transmyometrial embryo transfer. Due to rapidly progressing pre-eclampsia, an elective Caesarean section was performed at 32 weeks gestation. A 1610 g healthy male infant in breech presentation was born. The post-partum period was uneventful.     

Biochemical pregnancy after fertilization of an oocyte aspirated from a heterotopic autotransplant of cryopreserved ovarian tissue: case report

Autotransplantation of frozen/thawed ovarian tissue in women undergoing cancer therapy has so far led to the birth of two healthy babies. In both cases, it can be discussed whether the fertilized oocyte originated from the transplant or from the native ovary. We now present a biochemical pregnancy achieved after heterotopical autotransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian cortical tissue and hence the unquestionable proof that pregnancy can occur after transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue. A woman diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma had ovarian tissue cryopreserved at the age of 28, before receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy that rendered her amenorrhoeic. After complete remission, she had autotransplantation of ovarian tissue to the remaining ovary, to the right pelvic wall and to a midline subperitoneal pocket on the lower abdominal wall. The transplanted tissue resumed hormone secretion and follicles developed in all three locations. Three times during 8 months, when follicles could not be visualized in other locations, oocytes were aspirated from the subperitoneal autotransplanted tissue on the lower abdominal wall. Twice, an oocyte was retrieved, fertilized by intracytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI) and transferred to the woman's uterus. One of the treatments resulted in a positive pregnancy test 14 days after transfer. Clinical pregnancy, however, was not achieved. In conclusion, heterotopic autotransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue can sustain follicle development. The oocytes of aspirated mature follicles are capable of fertilization after ICSI, and the resulting embryo is competent of producing hCG at detectable levels.     

Case report: serial serum HCG measurements in a patient with an ectopic pregnancy: a case for caution

Improvements in the use of ultrasound in early pregnancy have resulted in improved diagnosis of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. There are still, however, a significant number of women with a suspected abnormal pregnancy, where transvaginal ultrasound is unable to locate the pregnancy. The concern is the possibility of ectopic pregnancy. An alternative diagnostic tool is required and it has been suggested that it is possible to monitor serum beta human chorionic gonadotrophin. The present case highlights the potential dangers of this management.     

Uterine artery embolization--a successful treatment to control bleeding cervical pregnancy with a simultaneous intrauterine gestation

A case of a woman suffering from a bleeding heterotopic cervical pregnancy is described. The concurrent cervical pregnancy and intrauterine gestation were diagnosed by ultrasound and bleeding was initially controlled with selective fluoroscopic uterine artery embolization. A selective fetal reduction was done with ultrasound-guided intracardiac potassium chloride. Uterine artery embolization has been used successfully to control haemorrhage in cervical pregnancies when the main goal was to allow preservation of the uterus, thus maintaining potential fertility. This is the first report of arterial embolization used to control bleeding for maintaining a concurrent intrauterine heterotopic pregnancy in an in-vitro fertilization patient. Unfortunately, subsequent conservative measures led to undesired outcome. This procedure initially controlled the bleeding without disrupting the intrauterine fetal cardiac activity.