Management of 14 patients with cornual heterotopic pregnancy following embryo transfer: experience from the past decade.

OBJECTIVE: There are two major management approach for cornual heterotopic pregnancy, transvaginal cornual embryo reduction with ultrasound guidance, or laparoscopic cornual resection. This no consensus on the optimal management for cornual heterotopic pregnancy. Here, we are trying to determine the optimal management approach for patients with viable cornual heterotopic pregnancy following embryo transfer. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted at the locally largest reproductive center of a tertiary hospital. A total of 14 women diagnosed as viable cornual heterotopic pregnancy following embryo transfer. Six patients were treated with cornual pregnancy reduction under transvaginal ultrasound guidance without the use of feticide drug (treatment 1), and eight patients were treated with laparoscopic cornual pregnancy resection (treatment 2). RESULTS: All 14 patients of cornual heterotopic pregnancy following embryo transfer due to fallopian tubal factor, among which, 12 patients had cornual pregnancy occurred in the ipsilateral uterine horn of tubal pathological conditions. Nine (64.29%) showed a history of ectopic pregnancy. Thirteen (92.86%) patients were transferred with two embryos and only one patient had single embryo transferred. Six patients received treatment 1, and 2 (33.33%) had uterine horn rupture and massive bleeding which required emergency laparoscopic surgery for homostasis. No cornual rupture occurred among patients received treatment 2. Each treatment group had one case of spontaneous miscarriage. The remaining 5 cases in treatment 1 group and the remaining 7 cases in treatment 2 group delivered healthy live offspring. CONCLUSION: Patients with tubal factors attempting for embryo transfer, especially those aiming for multiple embryos transfer, should be informed with risk of cornual heterotopic pregnancy and the subsequent cornual rupture. Compared with cornual pregnancy reduction under transvaginal ultrasound guidance, laparoscopic cornual resection might be a favorable approach for patients with viable cornual heterotopic pregnancy.

Avoiding the fatal misdiagnosis of pregnancy in a noncommunicating rudimentary horn using 3D transvaginal ultrasound.

Rudimentary horn pregnancies are an increasingly recognized complication of Mullerian duct anomalies. They can lead to uterine rupture with severe maternal morbidity and mortality. We present the case of a 28-year-old woman with a prior surgical diagnosis of bicornuate uterus who was diagnosed with a 7-week pregnancy in the left horn of a bicornuate uterus by 2D ultrasound. Further investigation with 3D ultrasound revealed that the pregnancy was within a noncommunicating rudimentary horn of a unicornuate uterus. These findings were confirmed at laparotomy. This case illustrates the importance and benefits of utilizing 3D ultrasound in diagnosing suspected Mullerian anomalies.

Detection and Management of Pregnancy in Rudimentary Horn of Uterus.

Pregnancy in rudimentary horn is extremely rare and usually terminates in rupture during first and second trimester of pregnancy. Diagnosis of rudimentary horn pregnancy and its rupture is difficult and can be missed in routine ultrasound scan; and in majority of cases, it is detected after rupture. It requires high index of suspicion. We present a case report of a woman who was misdiagnosed as having missed miscarriage; and termination was attempted, which ended up in failure and rupture of rudimentary horn was the consequence followed by laparotomy. With advances in prenatal ultrasound in recent decades, it is prudent to detect such a life-threatening condition earlier resulting in a lower incidence of maternal morbidity and mortality.

Sonographic findings of early pregnancy in the rudimentary horn of a unicornuate uterus: A two case report.

Congenital uterine anomalies have a profound impact on reproductive outcomes. The unicornuate uterus accounts for approximately 20% of all congenital uterine anomalies. Unicornuate uterine anomalies with non-communicating rudimentary horns are at risk of developing ectopic pregnancy in the rudimentary horn. Given increased risked of uterine rupture, rudimentary horn pregnancies pose significant maternal health risks. Understanding the sonographic appearance of early pregnancy within the rudimentary horn of the unicornuate uterine configuration is imperative for appropriate and timely clinical management. We present two cases of pregnancy in the rudimentary horn of a unicornuate uterus diagnosed sonographically in the first trimester.

Pregnancy in a noncommunicating rudimentary horn of a unicornuate uterus: Prerupture diagnosis and management.

OBJECTIVE: The estimated incidence of rudimentary horn pregnancy is one in 76,000. It is a life-threatening entity with a 50% risk of uterine rupture. With advances in prenatal ultrasound in recent decades, there may be an opportunity to detect rudimentary horn pregnancy earlier, resulting in a lower incidence of maternal morbidity and mortality. Management is typically resection of the rudimentary horn and the ipsilateral fallopian tube by either laparotomy or laparoscopy. CASE REPORT: Here, we present the case of a 22-year-old woman with a suspected ectopic pregnancy of 12 weeks' gestation. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging were performed as preoperative evaluations. A definitive diagnosis was made during laparotomy, and resection of the rudimentary horn pregnancy was performed. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis and management of rudimentary horn pregnancy remain a challenge. We should be alert to prenatal ultrasound with the intention of making an earlier diagnosis, thereby resulting in decreased maternal morbidity and mortality.