Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
ORIGINAL PAPER
Caesarean scar pregnancy. Analysis of medical intragestational therapy in a cohort of 35 patients
 
More details
Hide details
1
Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland
 
2
Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Provincial Combined Hospital, Kielce, Poland
 
 
Submission date: 2023-06-19
 
 
Final revision date: 2023-10-14
 
 
Acceptance date: 2023-11-13
 
 
Publication date: 2023-12-30
 
 
Corresponding author
Jakub Młodawski
Jakub Młodawski PhD Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Collegium Medicum Jan Kochanowski University Kielce, Poland
 
 
Medical Studies 2023;39(4):359-363
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Pregnancy in a scar after caesarean section (CSP) is a rare complication associated with the risk of morbidly adherent placenta (MAP) and adverse outcomes. The management of CSP is evolving, with various surgical and medical approaches employed.

Aim of the research:
To analyse the outcomes of 35 cases of CSP and their treatment modalities.

Material and methods:
Medical records of patients hospitalized at a single institution were reviewed. Data on patient characteristics, gestational age, treatment methods, hospitalization length, complications, and rehospitalization rates were collected. Statistical analysis was conducted using nonparametric Spearman correlation.

Results:
The study included 35 CSP patients with a mean age of 33 years. The median gestational age at diagnosis was 6 weeks. Methotrexate (MTX) administration to the gestational sac, alone or with intragestational MTX injection, was the primary treatment method. The median length of hospitalization was 6 days. No significant correlation was found between hospital stay and patient age, number of previous caesarean sections, or pre-procedure b-human chorionic gonadotropin (b-HCG) levels. Spontaneous evacuation occurred in most cases, with only a minority requiring subsequent uterine evacuation. No significant complications occurred, but 1 patient experienced heavy bleeding requiring a blood transfusion.

Conclusions:
Intra-amniotic MTX administration, combined with potassium chloride in certain cases, was found to be an effective and safe approach for managing CSP in the first trimester. This study contributes to the understanding of CSP management and supports the use of intra-amniotic MTX as a minimally invasive treatment option. Further research is needed to refine management guidelines and improve outcomes for this rare complication.
REFERENCES (22)
1.
Rotas MA, Haberman S, Levgur M. Cesarean scar ectopic pregnancies: etiology, diagnosis, and management. Obstet Gynecol 2006; 107: 1373-1381.
 
2.
Fonseca A, Ayres de Campos D. Maternal morbidity and mortality due to placenta accreta spectrum disorders. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2021; 72: 84-91.
 
3.
Ban Y, Shen J, Wang X, Zhang T, Lu X, Qu W, Hao Y, Mao Z, Li S, Tao G, Wang F, Zhao Y, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Zhang G, Cui B. Cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy clinical classification system with recommended surgical strategy. Obstet Gynecol 2023; 141: 927.
 
4.
Huang J, Phillips C, Moshiri M. Scarred for life: a review of cesarean section scar pregnancy and potential pitfalls in diagnosis. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2023; 48: 2672-2683.
 
5.
Li Y, Hua C. Is high-intensity focused ultrasound superior to uterine artery embolization in cesarean scar pregnancy and subsequent pregnancy outcomes? A meta-analysis of the Chinese population. J Minim Invasive Gynecol 2023; 30: 180-191.
 
6.
Timor-Tritsch IE, Monteagudo A, Cali G, Palacios-Jaraquemada JM, Maymon R, Arslan AA, Patil N, Popiolek D, Mittal KR. Cesarean scar pregnancy and early placenta accreta share common histology. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2014; 43: 383-395.
 
7.
Kaelin Agten A, Cali G, Monteagudo A, Oviedo J, Ramos J, Timor-Tritsch I. The clinical outcome of cesarean scar pregnancies implanted “on the scar” versus “in the niche”. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2017; 216: 510.e1-510.e6.
 
8.
Miller SE, Leonard SA, Meza PK, Ku S, Ren LY, Lyell DJ, Sultan P, Butwick A. Red blood cell transfusion in patients with placenta accreta spectrum: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol 2023; 141: 49-58.
 
9.
Shamshirsaz AA, Fox KA, Salmanian B, Diaz-Arrastia CR, Lee W, Baker BW, Ballas J, Chen Q, Van Veen TR, Javdian P, Sangi-Haghpeyka H, Zacharias N, Welty S, Cassady CI, Moaddab A, Popek EJ, Hui SR, Teruya J, Bandi V, Coburn M, Cunningham T, Martin SR, Belfort MA. Maternal morbidity in patients with morbidly adherent placenta treated with and without a standardized multidisciplinary approach. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015; 212: 218.e1-9.
 
10.
Aryananda RA, Nieto-Calvache AJ, Duvekot JJ, Aditiawarman A, Rijken MJ. Management of unexpected placenta accreta spectrum cases in resource-poor settings. AJOG Glob Rep 2023; 3: 100191.
 
11.
Silver RM, Fox KA, Barton JR, Abuhamad AZ, Simhan H, Huls CK, Belfort MA, Wright JD. Center of excellence for placenta accreta. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015; 212: 561-568.
 
12.
Nieto-Calvache AJ, Palacios-Jaraquemada JM, Vergara-Galliadi LM, Matera L, Sanín-Blair JE, Rivera EP, Rozo-Rangel AP, Burgos-Luna JM. Latin American Group for the Study of Placenta Accreta Spectrum. All maternal deaths related to placenta accreta spectrum are preventable: a difficult-to-tell reality. AJOG Glob Rep 2021; 1: 100012.
 
13.
Lama S, Todi S, Shrestha R, Acharya S. Peripartum hysterectomy among patients admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a Tertiary Care Centre: a descriptive cross-sectional study. JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc 2023; 61: 400-403.
 
14.
Tang P, Li X, Li W, Li Y, Zhang Y, Yang Y. The trend of the distribution of ectopic pregnancy sites and the clinical characteristics of caesarean scar pregnancy. Reprod Health 2022; 19: 182.
 
15.
Long Q, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Tang X, Kingdon C. Changes in caesarean section rates in China during the period of transition from the one-child to two-child policy era: cross-sectional National Household Health Services Surveys. BMJ Open 2022; 12: e059208.
 
16.
Borowski D, Pietryga M, Basta P, Cnota W, Czuba B, Dubiel M, Fuchs T, Huras H, Iciek R, Jaczynska R, Kaczmarek P, Kosinski P, Kwiatkowski S, Nocun A, Pomorski M, Ropcka-Lesiak M, Rybak-Krzyszkowska M, Sieroszewski P, Wegrzyn P, Wiechec M, Wielgos M, Zimmer M. Practice guidelines of the Polish Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians – Ultrasound Section for ultrasound screening in uncomplicated pregnancy – 2020. Ginekol Pol 2020; 91: 490-501.
 
17.
Armstrong F, Mulligan K, Dermott RM, Bartels HC, Carroll S, Robson M, Corcoran S, Mc Parland P, Brien DO, Brophy D, Brennan DJ. Cesarean scar niche: an evolving concern in clinical practice. Int J Gynecol Obstet 2023; 161: 356-366.
 
18.
Makukhina T, Beberashvili G, Makukhina V. VP60.01: Doctors’ awareness of Cesarean scar pregnancy diagnostic tools. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2020; 56: 328.
 
19.
Fu L, Luo Y, Huang J. Cesarean scar pregnancy with expectant management. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2022; 48: 1683-1690.
 
20.
Jurkovic D, Hillaby K, Woelfer B, Lawrence A, Salim R, Elson CJ. First-trimester diagnosis and management of pregnancies implanted into the lower uterine segment Cesarean section scar. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2003; 21: 220-227.
 
21.
Li Q, Xu H, Wang Y, Liu Q, He P, Wang L. Ultrasound-guided local methotrexate treatment for cesarean scar pregnancy in the first trimester: 12 years of single-center experience in China. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2019; 243: 162-167.
 
22.
Mlodawski J, Chabik A, Albrzykowski M, Mlodawska M, Swiercz G. Conservatively treated, live, 12-week cervical pregnancy – case report. J Educ Health Sport 2022; 12: 311-316.
 
eISSN:2300-6722
ISSN:1899-1874
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top