Surgical management of an ectopic pregnancy in the setting of an unexpected Müllerian anomaly: intraoperative and postoperative implications

Abstract

ObjectiveTo describe the intraoperative and postoperative implications arising from the unexpected diagnosis of a Müllerian anomaly during the surgical management of an ectopic pregnancy. DesignVideo article. SettingAcademic Center. Subject(s)A 39-year-old nulligravid woman with anovulation and irregular menstrual cycles presented to the office. Her urine pregnancy test was incidentally positive; serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) level was 5,644 mIU/mL. Outpatient transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS) demonstrated a 2.1 x 1.7 x 2.2-cm thick-walled structure in the left adnexa without an intrauterine pregnancy. These findings were highly suspicious for a left tubal ectopic pregnancy. The patient was consented for laparoscopy with planned left salpingectomy. The patient included in this video gave consent for publication of the video and posting of the video online including social media, the journal website, scientific literature websites (such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, etc.) and other applicable sites. InterventionDiagnostic laparoscopy did not show an obvious left tubal ectopic pregnancy. Instead, a right unicornuate uterus with a dilated rudimentary left uterine horn was seen. Both fallopian tubes and ovaries appeared normal. These laparoscopic findings were consistent with an ectopic pregnancy in the rudimentary horn. However, in the absence of informed consent for a hemi-hysterectomy and no evidence of ectopic rupture or bleeding within the pelvis, we decided to proceed with excision of the ectopic pregnancy from the uterine horn. An incision was made over the anterior surface of the uterine horn, and the pregnancy sac was dissected from the underlying myometrium and excised in its entirety. Left salpingectomy was also performed. The patient was discharged home the same day, and her β-hCG levels decreased to <5 mIU/mL within 28 days of surgery. Main Outcome MeasuresComplete resolution of a left rudimentary uterine horn ectopic pregnancy through surgical excision of the pregnancy sac without hemi-hysterectomy. ResultsPostoperative hysterosalpingography (HSG) demonstrated a right unicornuate uterus with normal fill and spill of the right fallopian tube. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pelvis confirmed the findings of a right unicornuate uterus with a non-communicating left rudimentary uterine horn that did not contain any endometrial tissue. Thus, the patient did not require an interval hemihysterectomy. She underwent letrozole and intrauterine insemination treatment 5 months after the initial surgery, which resulted in a clinical intrauterine pregnancy. However, this pregnancy was terminated in the early second trimester due to findings of trisomy 18. She conceived naturally one year later, and this pregnancy resulted in a full-term vaginal birth at 39 weeks gestation. ConclusionUndiagnosed or unexpected Müllerian anomalies can impact the standard intraoperative and postoperative management of ectopic pregnancies.