Outcome of cesarean scar pregnancies diagnosed sonographically in the first trimester

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome of cesarean scar pregnancies diagnosed during the first trimester.

Methods: We retrospectively identified all cesarean scar implantation pregnancies diagnosed by sonography before 14 weeks' gestation between 2000 and 2012 at our institution. We reviewed the patients' sonograms and medical records and recorded sonographic findings and pregnancy outcomes.

Results: Thirty-four cases met study entry criteria. Ten patients presented with no embryonic cardiac activity, of whom 7 underwent interventions, and 3 were expectantly managed. One of the former 7 and none of the latter 3 required hysterectomy for bleeding. Among the 24 patients with embryonic cardiac activity, 8 were managed expectantly: 5 (62.5%) ultimately delivered a live-born neonate, 3 (60.0%) of whom required hysterectomy due to placenta accreta; and 3 had fetal demise. Sixteen of the 24 underwent interventions, 2 opting for gravid hysterectomy (10 and 11 weeks' gestation, respectively) and 14 treated by a minimally invasive method: intrasac potassium chloride injection (3 cases); intrasac potassium chloride injection plus intramuscular methotrexate (4 cases); sonographically guided dilation and curettage (6 cases); and laparascopic resection (1 case). None of the latter 14 subsequently required hysterectomy.

Conclusions: If a woman has a first-trimester diagnosis of a cesarean scar implantation pregnancy and embryonic cardiac activity is present, expectant management offers the possibility of delivering a live-born neonate (62.5% in our study) but carries a substantial likelihood of hysterectomy at delivery due to placenta accreta (37.5% in our study), whereas minimally invasive therapy that interrupts the pregnancy largely eliminates the need for hysterectomy.

Keywords: accreta; cesarean scar pregnancy; minimally invasive therapy; obstetric ultrasound.