Non-tubal ectopic pregnancy treatment experiences of a tertiary care center

Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2024 Aug;310(2):1141-1149. doi: 10.1007/s00404-023-07338-5. Epub 2024 Jan 22.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the incidence, the risk factors, and the treatment outcomes of Non-tubal ectopic pregnancies (NTEP) treated in a tertiary care center.

Material and methods: A total of 110 NTEP cases treated between 2014 and 2019 were included in the retrospective study. The study cohort was divided into 6 groups according to the pregnancy localization: 87 cesarean scar pregnancies (CSPs), 7 ovarian pregnancies, 6 interstitial pregnancies, 4 rudimentary horn pregnancies, 4 abdominal pregnancies, and 2 cervical pregnancies. One woman rejected all treatment modalities. Demographic characteristics, treatment modalities, and outcomes of each group were evaluated.

Results: In the study cohort, expectant management was performed in one (0.9%) woman. The methotrexate (MTX) treatment was administered in 29 (26.3%) women. Seventeen (15.4%) women underwent surgery, and 63 (57.2%) women underwent manual vacuum aspiration (MVA). A woman rejected all treatment modalities. Although 70.1% (n = 61) of CSPs were cured with MVA, 24.1% (n = 21) of them were treated with a single-dose MTX regimen in addition to MVA. The higher mean gestational sac size (33,9 ± 12,96 mm vs. 17,34 ± 9,87 mm), the higher mean gestational week (8,43 ± 1,16w vs. 6,66 ± 1,49w), the presence of fetal heartbeat (FHB) (90.5% vs. 26,2%) and the history of pelvic ınflammatory disease (PID) (38.1% vs. 6,6%) were found in the CSPs with MVA treatment failure (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The management of NTEPs should be individualized according to the clinical and ultrasonographic findings. The size of the ectopic pregnancy mass, the gestational week, the presence of FHB, and the PID history were the predictive factors for the failure of MVA in CSP cases.

Keywords: Cesarean Scar Pregnancy; Ectopic Pregnancy; Manual vacuum aspiration; Methotrexate; Non-Tubal; Surgery.

MeSH terms

  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal* / administration & dosage
  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal* / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Cesarean Section / statistics & numerical data
  • Cicatrix
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Methotrexate* / administration & dosage
  • Methotrexate* / therapeutic use
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy, Abdominal / surgery
  • Pregnancy, Abdominal / therapy
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic* / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic* / therapy
  • Pregnancy, Interstitial / surgery
  • Pregnancy, Interstitial / therapy
  • Pregnancy, Ovarian / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy, Ovarian / surgery
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Tertiary Care Centers*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vacuum Curettage
  • Watchful Waiting
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Methotrexate
  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal