Skip to main content

Uterine Artery Embolization Combined with Dilation and Curettage for the Treatment of Cesarean Scar Pregnancy: Efficacy and Future Fertility

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the efficacy and safety of uterine artery embolization (UAE) followed by dilation and curettage (D&C) as a treatment for cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) and to assess pregnancy outcomes after the treatment.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 33 CSP patients treated with UAE followed by D&C. The serum level of beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) normalization, hospitalization, menstruation, and successful pregnancy after treatment was assessed as clinical and pregnancy outcomes.

Results

A total of 33 patients were initially treated without severe complications. However, four patients required additional systemic chemotherapy. β-hCG normalization took 35.5 ± 14.9 days (range 13–79), and the hospitalization was 6.5 ± 2.5 days (2–15). All patients resumed normal menstruation after 36 ± 19.2 days (12–86). Of 16 of 33 patients who desired pregnancy after the treatment, seven patients (43.8%) had uneventful parturition.

Conclusions

UAE combined with D&C was efficient and safe for CSP management. This minimally invasive procedure may be considered as one of the treatment options which enable preservation of fertility after treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

References

  1. Riaz RM, Williams TR, Craig BM, Myers DT. Cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy: imaging features, current treatment options, and clinical outcomes. Abdom Imaging. 2015;40:2589–99.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Shen L, Tan A, Zhu H, Guo C, Liu D, Huang W. Bilateral uterine artery chemoembolization with methotrexate for cesarean scar pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2012;207:386.e1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2012.09.012.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Timor-Tritsch IE, Khatib N, Monteagudo A, Ramos J, Berg R, Kovács S. Cesarean scar pregnancies. J Ultrasound Med [Internet]. 2015;34:601–10. Available from: http://doi.wiley.com/10.7863/ultra.34.4.601.

  4. Daniel A, Osborn MD, Todd R, Williams MD, Brian M, Craig M. Cesarean scar pregnancy. J Ultrasound Med. 2012;207:1449–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2012.04.018.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Timor-Tritsch IE, Monteagudo A, Cali G, Vintzileos A, Viscarello R, Al-Khan A, Zamudio S, Mayberry P, Cordoba MM, Dar P. Cesarean scar pregnancy is a precursor of morbidly adherent placenta. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2014;44:346–53.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  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;43:383–95.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Birch Petersen K, Hoffmann E, Rifbjerg Larsen C, Nielsen HS. Cesarean scar pregnancy: a systematic review of treatment studies. Fertil Steril. 2016;105:958–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.12.130.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Fahg A, Chen Q, Qian Z, Li Q, Meng Y. Correlation questions clinical discussion of uterine artery embolization in induced abortion patients with management of cesarean scar pregnancy. J Reprod Contracept. 2009;20:153–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-7844(09)60020-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Maheux-Lacroix S, Li F, Bujold E, Nesbitt-Hawes E, Deans R, Abbott J. Cesarean scar pregnancies: a systematic review of treatment options. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2017;24:915–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2017.05.019.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Gonzalez N, Tulandi T. Cesarean scar pregnancy: a systematic review. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2017;24:731–8. Available from: http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1553465017301929%0Ahttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28268103.

  11. Yang XY, Yu H, Li KM, Chu YX, Zheng A. Uterine artery embolisation combined with local methotrexate for treatment of caesarean scar pregnancy. BJOG Int J Obstet Gynaecol. 2010;117:990–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ben Nagi J, Helmy S, Ofili-Yebovi D, Yazbek J, Sawyer E, Jurkovic D. Reproductive outcomes of women with a previous history of Caesarean scar ectopic pregnancies. Hum Reprod. 2007;22:2012–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Wang JH, Xu KH, Lin J, Xu JY, Wu RJ. Methotrexate therapy for cesarean section scar pregnancy with and without suction curettage. Fertil Steril. 2009;92:1208–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.07.1780.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Wang G, Liu X, Bi F, Yin L, Sa R, Wang D, Yang Q. Evaluation of the efficacy of laparoscopic resection for the management of exogenous cesarean scar pregnancy. Fertil Steril. 2014;101:1501–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.01.045.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Wang YL, Weng SS, Huang WC, Su TH. Laparoscopic management of ectopic pregnancies in unusual locations. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol. 2014;53:466–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjog.2014.01.004.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Yin X, Su S, Dong B, Ban Y, Li C, Sun B. By vacuum aspiration: an efficient and safe treatment for managing complicated cesarean scar pregnancy. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2012;285:1313–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ko JKY, Li RHW, Cheung VYT. Caesarean scar pregnancy: a 10-year experience. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2015;55:64–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Da Qian Z, Huang LL, Zhu XM. Curettage or operative hysteroscopy in the treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2015;292:1055–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Seow KM, Hwang JL, Tsai YL, Huang LW, Lin YH, Hsieh BC. Subsequent pregnancy outcome after conservative treatment of a previous cesarean scar pregnancy. Acta Obs Gynecol Scand. 2004;83:1167–72. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=15548150.

  20. Wang CJ, Chao AS, Yuen LT, Wang CW, Soong YK, Lee CL. Endoscopic management of cesarean scar pregnancy. Fertil Steril. 2006;85:494.e1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Zhuang Y, Huang L. Uterine artery embolization compared with methotrexate for the management of pregnancy implanted within a cesarean scar. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009;201:152.e1–3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2009.04.038.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Uludag SZ, Kutuk MS, Ak M, Ozgun MT, Dolanbay M, Aygen EM, Sahin Y. Comparison of systemic and local methotrexate treatments in cesarean scar pregnancies: time to change conventional treatment and follow-up protocols. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2016;206:131–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Du YJ, Zhang XH, Wang LQ. Risk factors for haemorrhage during suction curettage after uterine artery embolization for treating caesarean scar pregnancy: a case-control study. Gynecol Obstet Investig. 2015;80:259–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Timor-Tritsch IE, Monteagudo A. Unforeseen consequences of the increasing rate of cesarean deliveries: early placenta accreta and cesarean scar pregnancy. A review. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2012;207:14–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2012.03.007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Van Steirteghem A. Fertil Ageing. 2005;11:261–76.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Yamaguchi M, Honda R, Uchino K, Tashiro H, Ohba T, Katabuchi H. Transvaginal methotrexate injection for the treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy: efficacy and subsequent fecundity. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2014;21:877–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2014.03.024.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Chen H, Zhou J, Wang H, Tan W, Yao M, Wang X. The treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy with uterine artery embolization and curettage as compared to transvaginal hysterotomy. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2017;214:44–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2017.04.032.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Liu W, Shen L, Wang Q, Wang W, Sun Z. Uterine artery embolization combined with curettage vs. methotrexate plus curettage for cesarean scar pregnancy. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2016;294:71–6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-015-3952-2.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Hardeman S, Decroisette E, Marin B, Vincelot A, Aubard Y, Pouquet M, Maubon A. Fertility after embolization of the uterine arteries to treat obstetrical hemorrhage: a review of 53 cases. Fertil Steril. 2010;94:2574–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Mclucas B, Iii WDV, Elliott S. Fertility after uterine artery embolization: a review. Minim Invasive Ther Allied Technol. 2016;25:1–7. Available from: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/13645706.2015.1074082.

  31. Zhang B, Jiang ZB, Huang MS, Guan SH, Zhu KS, Qian JS, Zhou B, Li MA, Shan H. Uterine artery embolization combined with methotrexate in the treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy: results of a case series and review of the literature. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2012;23:1582–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvir.2012.08.013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Seow KM, Huang LW, Lin YH, Lin MYS, Tsai YL, Hwang JL. Cesarean scar pregnancy: issues in management. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2004;23:247–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. 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;21:220–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

All authors participated in the study design. AT collected the data, carried out the analysis, and drafted the manuscript. HT supervised the overall study process. HT and YT revised the manuscript. AT-T checked English correction of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the writing of the final manuscript and approved it to be published.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hiroyuki Tokue.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest and nothing to disclose.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. For this type of study, formal consent is not required.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Synopsis Uterine Artery Embolization combined with Dilation and Curettage is preferred as a safe and efficient treatment in 33 cases with cesarean scar pregnancy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tumenjargal, A., Tokue, H., Kishi, H. et al. Uterine Artery Embolization Combined with Dilation and Curettage for the Treatment of Cesarean Scar Pregnancy: Efficacy and Future Fertility. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 41, 1165–1173 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-018-1934-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-018-1934-z

Keywords

  • Cesarean scar pregnancy
  • Dilation and curettage
  • Fertility
  • Pregnancy outcomes
  • Uterine artery embolization