Heterotopic pregnancy following bilateral tubal ligation: Case report

Heterotopic Pregnancy After In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer After Bilateral Total Salpingectomy/Tubal Ligation: Case Report and Literature Review

Heterotopic pregnancy is defined as the simultaneous occurrence of intrauterine and ectopic pregnancy, either of which may be single or multiple. It occurs in up to 1% of pregnancies after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. This article reports 2 rare cases of heterotopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and presents a literature review. In the first case, a 28-year-old woman had previous laparoscopic bilateral total salpingectomy for a right tubal pregnancy and a left hydrosalpinx. However, she had ovarian heterotopic pregnancy after a third in vitro fertilization cycle. Emergency laparotomy was performed. The synchronous intrauterine pregnancy continued with no further complications and ended in the delivery of a singleton term pregnancy. The second case combined interstitial and intrauterine pregnancies after bilateral tubal ligation for hydrosalpinges followed by in vitro fertilization and frozen embryo transfer. The possibility of heterotopic pregnancy after bilateral total salpingectomy/tubal ligation, although extremely rare, should also be considered by gynecologists when they treat an in vitro fertilization patient even though an intrauterine pregnancy has been confirmed.

Evaluation of tubal microinserts position using 3D ultrasound and pelvic X-ray

PURPOSE

To retrospectively compare three-dimensional ultrasonography (3D-US) and pelvic X-rays to assess the position of tubal sterilization microinserts.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Forty-four patients who underwent tubal sterilization with Essure(®) microinserts in our institution were included. The microinserts'position was evaluated three months after the procedure using 3D-US and pelvic X-rays. Placement on 3D-US was binary categorized as correct or incorrect and the distance between the two devices was reported. The orientation and symmetric deployment of the microinserts and the distance between the proximal parts of the two devices was assessed on pelvic X-rays. Performance of 3D-US and pelvic X-ray were compared using Mac Nemar test. Comparison of the distance between the two devices measured on pelvic X-rays and 3D-US was made with the paired Student t test.

RESULTS

3D-US images showed microinserts in 93% (41/44). Eighty-six percent (38/44) were correctly positioned on 3D-US and 82% (36/44) on pelvic X-rays. No significant differences between the performances of the two imaging techniques were found. No significant differences for the distance between the two devices measured on pelvic X-ray and 3D-US was found.

CONCLUSION

3D-US is a simple, non-ionizing technique, which appears as a promising alternate technique to pelvic X-rays to assess the correct position of Essure(®) microinserts.

Ectopic pregnancy secondary to in vitro fertilisation-embryo transfer: pathogenic mechanisms and management strategies

BACKGROUND

Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality during the first trimester and the incidence increases dramatically with in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). The co-existence of an EP with a viable intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) is known as heterotopic pregnancy (HP) affecting about 1% of patients during assisted conception. EP/HP can cause significant morbidity and occasional mortality and represent diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, particularly during fertility treatment. Many risk factors related to IVF-ET techniques and the cause of infertility have been documented. The combination of transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) and serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is the most reliable diagnostic tool, with early diagnosis of EP/HP permitting conservative management. This review describes the risk factors, diagnostic modalities and treatment approaches of EP/HP during IVF-ET and also their impact on subsequent fertility treatment.

METHODS

The scientific literature was searched for studies investigating EP/HP during IVF-ET. Publications in English and within the past 6 years were mostly selected.

RESULTS

A history of tubal infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and specific aspects of embryo transfer technique are the most significant risk factors for later EP. Early measurement of serum hCG and performance of TVS by an expert operator as early as gestational week 5 can identify cases of possible EP. These women should be closely monitored with repeated ultrasound and hCG measurement until a diagnosis is reached. Treatment must be customised to the clinical condition and future fertility requirements of the patient. In cases of HP, the viable IUP can be preserved in the majority of cases but requires early detection of HP. No apparent negative impact of the different treatment approaches for EP/HP on subsequent IVF-ET, except for risk of recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

EP/HP are tragic events in a couple's reproductive life, and the earlier the diagnosis the better the prognosis. Due to the increase incidence following IVF-ET, there is a compelling need to develop a diagnostic biomarker/algorithm that can predict pregnancy outcome with high sensitivity and specificity before IVF-ET to prevent and/or properly manage those who are at higher risk of EP/HP.

Spontaneous ectopic tubal pregnancy after laparoscopic tubal sterilisation by segmental isthmic partial salpingectomy

A 33-year-old woman with a history of tubal sterilisation, presented to our gynaecological emergency unit with acute abdominal pain and signs of peritonism. The first day of her last menstruation occurred 4 weeks and 4 days before. Urine pregnancy test was positive and transvaginal ultrasound revealed an empty uterus with a heterogeneous mass below the right ovary. We performed a laparoscopy, which confirmed a previous isthmic partial salpingectomy and the presence of an ectopic pregnancy in the right distal remnant tube. Total salpingectomy of the remnant parts of the tube was performed and the postoperative course was uneventful.