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The efficacy and safety of managing ectopic pregnancies with transvaginal ultrasound-guided local injections of absolute ethanol

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Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Purpose: To describe the efficacy and safety of managing ectopic pregnancies (EP) with ultrasound-guided local injections of absolute ethanol (AE).

Methods: 69 cases of EP following IVF performed in our clinic were treated with a local injection of 0.3 ml AE with a 23-gauge needle under transvaginal ultrasonic guidance. The efficacy was evaluated comparing serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels before and after the injection.

Results: In the 60 successful cases (87%), the serum β-hCG level decreased by 10–30% in two hours postinjection. Of these, 46 were effective with a single injection and the half-life of β-hCG was achieved within 4 days in 45 cases. In 56 cases (including repetitive administration) serum β-hCG levels decreased to 20 mIU/mL within 20 days. The treatment showed no side effects and could be given on an outpatient basis without anesthesia.

Conclusions: This method was shown to be a safe, effective new approach to treating EP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kato Ladies Clinic, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Hirotsune Kaijima, Keiichi Kato, Tomoya Segawa, Yuji Takehara, Shokichi Teramoto & Osamu Kato

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan

    Hisao Osada

  3. Kato Ladies Clinic, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Hirotsune Kaijima

Authors
  1. Hirotsune Kaijima
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  2. Hisao Osada
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  3. Keiichi Kato
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  4. Tomoya Segawa
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  5. Yuji Takehara
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  6. Shokichi Teramoto
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  7. Osamu Kato
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Correspondence to Hirotsune Kaijima.

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Transvaginal ultrasound-guided local injections of absolute ethanol are a safe and effective approach to treating ectopic pregnancies.

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Kaijima, H., Osada, H., Kato, K. et al. The efficacy and safety of managing ectopic pregnancies with transvaginal ultrasound-guided local injections of absolute ethanol. J Assist Reprod Genet 23, 293–298 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-006-9037-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-006-9037-1

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