Caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy: a case series and case report to highlight the experience in regional New Zealand.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: To evaluate the approach to diagnosis and management of caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) at a regional New Zealand hospital. METHODS: A retrospective case series of ten patients between June 2015 and May 2020. The data review included demographic information, ultrasound findings, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels, primary and subsequent treatment, outcomes and complications. RESULTS: Nine women were diagnosed with CSP at a gestational age between four and ten weeks. One of these women was treated twice for two separate CSP within the study period. Treatment varied according to clinical presentation, HCG levels, gestational age, ultrasound findings and patient preference. Two thirds of women were successfully treated with primary management, with one third requiring multiple treatment modalities. We report one severe life-threatening haemorrhage and three cases resulting in hysterectomy. We also show a disproportionate number of Maori women presenting with CSP. CONCLUSION: We present a series of ten cases of CSP and demonstrate similar challenges in regional New Zealand to those reported elsewhere. Management is heterogeneous with little guidance from the literature, and primary management was successful in seven out of ten cases. We report a disproportionately high number of cases in Maori women. Our results would support the development of a national register for caesarean scar pregnancy to improve diagnosis and management across New Zealand.