Hysteroscopic Intact Removal of Angular and Caesarean Scar Pregnancy: A Novel and Markedly Less Invasive Surgical Treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Ectopic pregnancy is the most common cause of mortality during the first trimester of pregnancy, and intrauterine ectopic pregnancies show significantly higher morbidity and mortality than extrauterine ones. Despite being less invasive, safety and effectiveness of the hysteroscopic treatment are still unclear. Moreover, such approach is not standardized. We aimed to evaluate safety and effectiveness of hysteroscopic intact removal of angular or cesarean section scar pregnancies, defining a novel and markedly less invasive hysteroscopic technique with a 5-mm Bettocchi hysteroscope or a 3.5-mm Versascope hysteroscope. Materials and Methods: Medical records and video archives were reviewed for all the patients with angular or caesarean scar pregnancies treated with hysteroscopic intact removal technique from January 2000 to December 2018 at our Department. Success and complication rates were assessed. Results: Four patients with angular (n = 1) or cesarean scar pregnancy (n = 3) met inclusion criteria. Case #1 was treated with bipolar resectoscope, cases #2 and #3 with 5-mm Bettocchi hysteroscope, and case #4 with 3.5-mm Versascope hysteroscope. Cases #2–4 did not require cervical dilatation. Before hysteroscopic treatment, cases #2–4 underwent unsuccessful medical therapy with multiple-dose methotrexate. Hysteroscopic treatment success rate was 100%, while complication rate was 0%. All patients were treated with a novel technique: hysteroscopic intact removal of angular or cesarean scar pregnancies. Such technique was described step-by-step. Conclusions: Hysteroscopic treatment of angular and cesarean scar pregnancies may be a safe and effective minimally invasive option. The novel technique of hysteroscopic intact removal technique may allow a markedly less invasive approach.