Successful pregnancy outcome via in-vitro fertilization and laparoscopic resection of non-communicating rudimentary horn pregnancy containing early pregnancy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Non-communicating rudimentary horn pregnancy (NCRHP) lead to life-threatening condition for both mother and fetus. Early diagnosis of NCRHP and laparoscopic resection is important to prevent catastrophic conditions. However, delayed diagnosis until the second or third trimester makes it difficult to accurately diagnose between NCRHP and bicornuate uterine pregnancy, as both conditions present uterine rupture and massive hemoperitoneum. Furthermore, these rare cases are challenging in pregnancy trials and associated with adverse outcomes in subsequent pregnancies. CASE PRESENTATION: A 31-year-old gravida 1 para 0 Korean woman visited our infertility center with a confirmed positive urine pregnancy test after timed intercourse. Before she was scheduled to have timed intercourse, a unicornuate uterus with a non-communicating right uterine horn was suspected based on an ultrasound scan and hysterosalpingography during the initial infertility workup. A gestational sac was observed in the right non-communicating rudimentary horn at 5 weeks of gestation. Serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (b-hCG) level was 2052.0mIU/mL. An elective laparoscopic resection of the right rudimentary horn containing a gestational sac, along with ipsilateral salpingectomy, was performed with no adverse event. After 3-month of recovery period and three cycles of conceptional trials involving timed intercourse and intrauterine insemination, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) was performed using the antagonist protocol, and successful pregnancy was confirmed. The patient had been hospitalized from 21 + 6 weeks to 35 + 6 weeks of gestation, underwent cerclage placement and tocolytics with corticosteroid treatment. She delivered an early-term male baby by cesarean section. CONCLUSION: In this rare case, the successful pregnancy achieved through IVF following the appropriate management of NCRHP under laparoscopy underscores the critical importance of early diagnosis and intervention in cases of NCRHP. Timely identification and management of NCRHP are vital to prevent the occurrence of catastrophic conditions and to enhance the prognosis of a successful pregnancy through assisted reproductive technology (ART). Therefore, a high index of suspicion for NCRHP is important and employs a range of diagnostic modalities.

[Rudimentary horn pregnancy: clinical analysis of 12 cases and literature review].

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, treatments and fertility recovery of rudimentary horn pregnancy (RHP). Methods: The clinical data of 12 cases with RHP diagnosed and treated in Peking University Third Hospital from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical informations, diagnosis and treatments of RHP and the pregnancy status after surgery were analyzed. Results: The median age of 12 RHP patients was 29 years (range: 24-37 years). Eight cases of pregnancy in residual horn of uterus occurred in type Ⅰ residual horn of uterus, 4 cases occurred in type Ⅱ residual horn of uterus; among which 5 cases were misdiagnosed by ultrasound before surgery. All patients underwent excision of residual horn of uterus and affected salpingectomy. After surgery, 9 patients expected future pregnancy, and 3 cases of natural pregnancy, 2 cases of successful pregnancy through assisted reproductive technology. Four pregnancies resulted in live birth with cesarean section, and 1 case resulted in spontaneous abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy. No uterine rupture or ectopic pregnancy occurred in subsequent pregnancies. Conclusions: Ultrasonography could aid early diagnosis of RHP while misdiagnosis occurred in certain cases. Thus, a comprehensive judgment and decision ought to be made based on medical history, physical examination and assisted examination. Surgical exploration is necessary for diagnosis and treatment of RHP. For infertile patients, assisted reproductive technology should be applied when necessary. Caution to prevent the occurrence of pregnancy complications such as uterine rupture, and application of cesarean section to terminate pregnancy are recommended.

Cornual Pregnancy: Results of a Single-Center Retrospective Experience and Systematic Review on Reproductive Outcomes.

Background and Objectives: Cornual pregnancies (CPs) are rare forms of ectopic pregnancy. When abortion does not occur, it can be a life-threatening condition for the mother and can also impair future fertility. We present our experience in the diagnosis and management of CPs. A systematic review was also conducted to investigate the reproductive outcomes after treatment. Materials and Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2022, we performed a retrospective, cross-sectional, single-center, and descriptive data collection and analysis (ClinicalTrial ID: NCT06165770). The search for suitable articles published in English was carried out using the following databases (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023484909): MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, The Cochrane Library (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Methodology Register), Health Technology Assessment Database, Web of Science, and search register such as ClinicalTrial. Only studies describing the impact of CP treatment on fertility were selected. Results: Two studies were included in the systematic review. Seventeen patients suffering from CPs were selected. In our series, a pelvic ultrasound allowed for the diagnosis of a cornual localization in 35.30% of cases. Thirteen women (76.47%) underwent immediate surgical management. The laparoscopic approach was the most used (76.92%), with a laparotomic conversion rate of 30%. Four patients (23.52%) received medical treatment with methotrexate. After treatment, two patients managed to achieve pregnancy. Conclusions: CP is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy that can quickly become life-threatening for the mother. Ultrasound does not lead to a precise diagnosis in all cases. In the absence of complications and emergencies, laparoscopy is an approach that could be considered valid. For selected asymptomatic patients, medical treatment may be a valid alternative. The data from the studies included in the systematic review, although demonstrating a superiority of medical treatment in terms of future pregnancies, are heterogeneous and do not allow us to reach a definitive conclusion.

Management of non-tubal ectopic pregnancies analysis of a large tertiary center case series.

PURPOSE: Ectopic pregnancies include cesarean scar (CSP), cornual and cervical pregnancies. Various treatment modalities have been- described, but no standardized procedure has been defined so far. The aim of our analysis was to evaluate the diagnostics and treatment at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LMU University Hospital, Munich. METHODS: In this retrospective, single-center analysis, 24 patients treated between 2015 and 2020 were analyzed. After verification of the diagnosis by imaging and HCG-analysis, the treatment was individually determined: therapy with methotrexate (MTX) locally with or without simultaneous systemic treatment, surgical treatment via curettage, excision with uterine reconstruction even hemi hysterectomy. RESULTS: Ten patients presented with CSP, six with cervical and eight with cornual pregnancies. Median age was 34.6 years. CSP was treated with local MTX in six cases; five required additional treatment with systemic MTX or curettage. Primary curettage or surgery was performed in four cases. In cervical pregnancies the primary therapy with local MTX injection and systemic treatment was performed in 50%. One patient was treated with MTX and insertion of a Bakri balloon. Trachelectomy was required in one case. 50% of cornual pregnancies were treated with MTX locally and intramuscularly and 50% received surgery. CONCLUSION: Treatment strategies were based on the patient's individual risk parameters. The results of this study show, that simultaneous treatment with local and systemic MTX had good outcomes and could avoid surgeries.

Cornual pregnancy rupture and massive hemorrhage: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Corneal pregnancy is rare and difficult to detect in the early stages. Due to the abundant blood supply in this area, a rupture can result in massive internal bleeding, shock, and even death. Therefore, immediate surgery is necessary, and patients must replenish their blood volume as soon as possible to ensure blood supply to important organs. For those whose blood pressure cannot immediately rise, surgery should be performed while resisting shock to buy time. CASE SUMMARY: We present the case of a 34-year-old Chinese woman at 19 weeks of gestation who had a corneal pregnancy. No abnormalities were detected in the examinations in the first trimester. This patient was 19 weeks pregnant and sought medical advice due to sudden lower abdominal pain, syncope, and hemorrhagic shock. After rescue and treatment, she recovered and was discharged from the hospital, afterwards, the patient gave birth to a child 7 years later. CONCLUSION: The early diagnosis of cornual pregnancy is mainly based on ultrasound. However, there is a high incidence of missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of this disease. Patients may face serious and life-threatening conditions in case of the rupture of cornual pregnancy. This disease can be mainly treated by surgery.

Persistent cornual pregnancy mimicking uterine arteriovenous malformation: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Uterine arteriovenous malformation(AVM) refers to the abnormal direct traffic between uterine arteries and veins, which can be characterized by the imaging examination, showing increased uterine vascularity and arteriovenous shunting. However, similar imaging manifestations can also be seen in a variety of conditions including retained production of conception, gestational trophoblastic disease, placental polyp, and vascular neoplasm. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we present a case of a 42-year-old woman who was suspected of suffering uterine AVM indicated by Doppler sonography and magnetic resonance imaging but was finally diagnosed with a persistent ectopic pregnancy located on the right uterine corner by pathology after laparoscopy. She recovered well after surgery. CONCLUSION: Uterine AVM is a rare and serious condition. In general, it presents special radiological manifestations. However, when complicated with other diseases it can also be distorting. Standardized diagnosis and management are important.

Abdominal pregnancy secondary to uterine horn pregnancy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy begins with a fertilized ovum that normally attaches to the uterine endometrium. However, an ectopic pregnancy can occur when a fertilized egg implants and grows outside the uterine cavity. Tubal ectopic pregnancy is the most common type (over 95%), with ovarian, abdominal, cervical, broad ligament, and uterine cornual pregnancy being less common. As more cases of ectopic pregnancy are diagnosed and treated in the early stages, the survival rate and fertility retention significantly improve. However, complications of abdominal pregnancy can sometimes be life-threatening and have severe consequences. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of intraperitoneal ectopic pregnancy with fetal survival. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging showed a right cornual pregnancy with a secondary abdominal pregnancy. In September 2021, we performed an emergency laparotomy, along with additional procedures such as transurethral ureteroscopy, double J-stent placement, abdominal fetal removal, placentectomy, repair of the right uterine horn, and pelvic adhesiolysis, in the 29th week of pregnancy. During laparotomy, we diagnosed abdominal pregnancy secondary to a rudimentary uterine horn. The mother and her baby were discharged eight days and 41 days, respectively, after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal pregnancy is a rare condition. The variable nature of ectopic pregnancy can cause delays in timely diagnosis, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality, especially in areas with inadequate medical and social services. A high index of suspicion, coupled with appropriate imaging studies, can help facilitate its diagnosis in any suspected case.

Vasopressin Injection Purse-String Ectopic Resection technique for laparoscopic management of cornual ectopic pregnancy.

Although cornual pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy, the associated mortality rate is considerably higher than that of ectopic pregnancy overall. Historically, cornual ectopic pregnancy has been treated via laparotomy. With advancements in technology, equipment, and technique, laparoscopy offers a safer approach for the management of cornual pregnancy. However, laparoscopy of this nature requires excellent technique. The Vasopressin Injection Purse-String Ectopic Resection technique serves as an effective strategy for the laparoscopic management of cornual ectopic pregnancy. First, dilute vasopressin is administered into the myometrium surrounding the pregnancy. Next, a purse-string stitch is placed in the myometrium circumferential to the pregnancy. Finally, the pregnancy is excised by cornual wedge resection, and the defect is repaired using the attached remaining suture from the purse-string stitch. The Figure shows the graphical depiction of the Vasopressin Injection Purse-String Ectopic Resection technique, and the Video shows a laparoscopic recording of the Vasopressin Injection Purse-String Ectopic Resection technique. Between 2012 and 2022, 17 patients underwent a laparoscopic cornual ectopic pregnancy resection at a high-volume academic hospital and its affiliated community hospital. This case series revealed a mean operative time of 107 minutes, with a mean estimated blood loss of 41 mL for nonruptured ectopic pregnancies and 412 mL for ruptured ectopic pregnancies. No case was converted to laparotomy. Our findings suggest that the integration of the vasopressin administration and the pursue-string stitch placement minimizes blood loss and mitigates the risk of conversion to laparotomy for both nonruptured and ruptured cornual ectopic pregnancies.

Laparoscopic management of second trimester ruptured cornual heterotopic pregnancy with subsequent live birth delivery: A case report and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: Heterotopic pregnancy (HP) is the coexistence of extra- and intrauterine gestation implantation sites. A rare case of a second-trimester ruptured cornual HP (CHP) treated with laparoscopic cornual resection with the primary repair is presented. Risk factors, clinical presentations, treatments, and outcomes of CHPs are also reviewed. CASE REPORT: A 35-year-old pregnant woman with CHP presented with lower abdominal pain with hemoperitoneum and her hemoglobin level dropped. Laparoscopic management of a ruptured HP was performed, leaving the surplus intrauterine fetus intact. She delivered a 2360 g male infant via cesarean section at 34 weeks' gestation due to preterm premature rupture of membranes. We found a well-healed wound over the left uterine cornua during the cesarean section. CONCLUSION: Ruptured CHP is a rare but life-threatening complication of an obstetric emergency. Although the pregnant uterus becomes congested and fragile, using reliable laparoscopic energy devices and barbed sutures, successful treatment is feasible.

Double trouble in an ectopic pregnancy / Philippine Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

@#Gestational trophoblastic diseases are histologically different types of tumors originating from the placenta with an incidence of 0.2–5.8/1000 pregnancies. Ectopic pregnancy is the implantation of the fertilized ovum outside the uterine cavity, and a 0.64% incidence is reported. Ectopic cornual pregnancy and molar pregnancy are rare cases, and a combination of these two rare entities occurring simultaneously is even rare and very few cases have been reported in the literature. A cornual pregnancy refers to the implantation and development of a gestational sac in one of the upper and lateral portions of the uterus, whereas an interstitial pregnancy is a gestational sac that implants within the proximal, intramural portion of the fallopian tube that is enveloped by the myometrium. We present one of the rare combinations of molar pregnancy and cornual/interstitial ectopic pregnancy in a 30‑year‑old G3 P1 who presented with a triad of amenorrhea, vaginal bleeding, and abdominal pain. Laparotomy was done in view of an ultrasound which was suggestive of a well‑defined complex thick‑walled lesion of size 3.2 × 3.3 with a gestational sac and no cardiac activity in the right fallopian tube/adnexa suggesting tubal ectopic pregnancy. Beta‑human chorionic gonadotropin (β‑hCG) levels were done and noted to be as high as 9998 mIU/mL. Intraoperatively, a cornual ectopic pregnancy was found with no hemoperitoneum which was excised. Histopathology showed chorionic villi with variable size and hydropic change, myxoid stromal changes, and cistern formation with polar trophoblastic proliferation, based on which a diagnosis of molar pregnancy was made. Although ultrasonography and higher than usual serum β‑hCG levels are diagnostic of uterine molar pregnancy, they do not yield a proper diagnosis in ectopic molar pregnancy, hence, making it difficult to distinguish between an early ectopic molar pregnancy from a nontrophoblastic tubal pregnancy. The final diagnosis is usually made only after histopathology. A high degree of clinical suspicion of cornual pregnancy followed by histopathological examination of the products of conception is the standard for arriving at an appropriate diagnosis. Serial serum β‑hCG level follow‑up is recommended to rule out its malignant potential.

Acquired uterine arteriovenous malformation in a patient with cornual pregnancy: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Acquired uterine arteriovenous malformation (uAVM) is a rare disease and could occur after dilation and curettage, cesarean section, or neoplastic processes. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 29-year-old female presented with acute right lower abdominal pain and positive beta human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG). DIAGNOSIS: A 6 cm ectopic right cornual pregnancy was found on ultrasound examination. INTERVENTIONS: She underwent a laparoscopic resection of the cornual ectopic pregnancy. She returned with extensive vaginal bleeding 6-month post surgery, and eventually diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation at the previous surgical site by Color Dopplor endovaginal ultrasound. Percutaneous transcatheter uterine artery embolization (UAE) was attempted, however, vaginal bleeding continued. She was taken to the operation room for a hysteroscopic ablation of uAVM. OUTCOMES: Complete cessation of the bleeding was achieved without hysterectomy. CONCLUSION: We report an extremely unusual case of acquired uAVM after a wedge resection of cornual pregnancy. Ultrasound evaluation of patients with post-operative persistent bleeding should be considered for evaluation of a possible arteriovenous malformation.

Analysis of the Clinical Efficacy of Conservative Treatment for an Unruptured Cornual Pregnancy.

Context: Early diagnosis and early treatment of cornual pregnancy are very important. Conservative treatment before rupture can greatly reduce the patient's trauma. It's very important to choose a treatment method for cornual pregnancy with a high level of effectiveness, few adverse reactions, and no effects on fertility. Objective: The study intended to compare the clinical efficacy of different treatments for unruptured cornual pregnancy to find a safe, effective, minimally invasive treatment for unruptured cornual pregnancy that has few side effects and doesn't affect fertility. Design: The research team retrospectively collected the clinical data of patients to analyze the benefits of treatments for cornual pregnancy. Setting: The study took place in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Wuhan Third Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Participants: Participants were 61 patients with an unruptured cornual pregnancy who had been admitted to the hospital between September 2002 and May 2012. Intervention: Participants were divided into four groups according to the treatment they received: (1) 20 patients who had been orally administered mifepristone combined with misoprostol and received uterine curettage were included in the drug abortion + curettage group (D group); (2) 16 patients who had received ultrasound-guided uterine aspiration were included in the uterine aspiration group (U group); (3) 15 patients who had received methotrexate (MTX) chemotherapy were included in the chemotherapy group (C group); and (4) 10 patients who had received ultrasound-guided hysteroscope operation were included in the hysteroscope operation group (H group). Outcome Measures: Adverse reactions and the decrease in participants' blood ß-HCG were recorded in detail. The participants were followed up for two months. Results: Of the 61 participants, 12 underwent surgery after failed conservative treatment, one in the D group, four in the U group, three in the C group, and four in the H group. No significant difference existed in the baseline data among the four groups. The decline rates of ß-HCG at seven days after treatment and the treatment success rates of participants in the D group were significantly higher than those in the U group, the C group, and the H group (all P < .05). The time at which the ß-HCG turned negative and the average hospital stays weren't significantly different among the four groups. Conclusions: The current study found that oral administration of mifepristone, combined with misoprostol, plus uterine curettage was superior to the other three methods in treatment of unruptured cornual pregnancy. The drug abortion + curettage treatment was found to be a safe, effective, minimally invasive treatment for unruptured cornual pregnancy, which has few side effects and doesn't affect fertility.

Uso de vasopresina y suturas transfixivas para el tratamiento quirúrgico de la gestación ectópica intersticial / Use of vasopressin and transfixive sutures for the surgical treatment of interstitial ectopic gestation

Resumen La gestación cornual, también conocida como intersticial, es una gestación ectópica infrecuente que ocurre en 1/2500 a 1/5000 de los embarazos cuando el embrión implanta en el trayecto intramiometrial de la porción proximal de la trompa. Puede debutar como shock hipovolémico en un 25% de los casos, conllevando una mortalidad de hasta un 2,5%. Mediante ecografía se encuentra un saco gestacional excéntrico y rodeado por una fina capa de miometrio. El tratamiento, en la mayoría de los casos, es quirúrgico, y el control de la hemostasia supone todo un reto. Se presentan dos casos clínicos de mujeres con diagnóstico de gestación intersticial en quienes se realizó exéresis por laparoscopia tras inyección de vasopresina, permitiendo así controlar el sangrado. En una de las pacientes se practicaron también puntos transfixivos transitorios en la arteria uterina y el ligamento útero-ovárico.

Abstract Cornual gestation, also known as interstitial, is a rare ectopic gestation that occurs in 1/2500 to 1/5000 of pregnancies when the embryo implants in the intramyometrial tract of the proximal tube. It can debut as hypovolemic shock in 25% of cases, leading to a mortality rate of up to 2.5%. Using ultrasound, we will find an eccentric gestational sac surrounded by a thin layer of myometrium. Treatment, in most cases, is surgical and control of hemostasis is a challenge. Two clinical cases are presented of women with a diagnosis of interstitial pregnancy in whom transient transfixive sutures were performed at the level of the uterine artery and uterine-ovarian ligament and injection of vasopressin prior to laparoscopic exeresis, thus allowing the bleeding to be controlled.

Diagnostic dilemma between angular and interstitial ectopic pregnancy: 3D ultrasound features.

Angular pregnancy is a rare entity which is commonly confused with interstitial or cornual pregnancies. A lack of consensus about the specific ultrasound features of these 3 entities leads to inappropriate interchange between them among the literature. An angular pregnancy should be considered as a potentially viable intra-uterine eccentric pregnancy as it might be carried to term and result in a live-born baby whereas interstitial or cornual pregnancies should be considered as ectopic pregnancies which should be interrupted. We report here two cases of women at 8 weeks of pregnancy with an angular pregnancy diagnosed by vaginal 2D and 3D ultrasound and discuss about specific ultrasound features and alternative imaging modalities to distinguish it from interstitial and cornual pregnancies.

Embarazo ectópico en cuerno rudimentario izquierdo de útero unicorne con embarazo de 15 semanas: reporte de un caso / Ectopic pregnancy in rudimentary left horn of unicorne uterus with pregnancy of 15 weeks: a case report

INTRODUCCIÓN: El embarazo ectópico en el cuerno rudimentario de un útero unicorne tiene una incidencia de 1 en 76.000 embarazos. La aproximación diagnóstica se realiza con la ecografía y como estudio complementario con la resonancia magnética. El diagnóstico temprano con tratamiento oportuno es fundamental para la prevención de la morbimortalidad materna asociada. El objetivo es describir el diagnóstico y el tratamiento temprano de un caso de embarazo ectópico de 15 semanas en cuerno rudimentario no comunicante de útero unicorne. CASO CLÍNICO: Mujer de 38 años con embarazo de 15 semanas, asintomática, que ingresa al servicio de urgencias referida desde el servicio de ecografía por sospecha de embarazo ectópico. Se realizan ecografía y resonancia magnética que muestran embarazo con feto único de 15 semanas en cuerno uterino izquierdo rodeado de miometrio, sin comunicación con la cavidad endometrial. Con impresión diagnóstica de embarazo ectópico cornual en paciente con malformación mülleriana, se realizó manejo quirúrgico que confirmó útero unicorne con embarazo ectópico en cuerno rudimentario no comunicante. CONCLUSIONES: El embarazo ectópico en un cuerno rudimentario de útero unicorne es infrecuente y presenta un alto riesgo de rotura, con aumento de la morbimortalidad obstétrica. El tratamiento estándar, al igual que la confirmación diagnóstica, es la escisión quirúrgica completa.

INTRODUCTION: Ectopic pregnancy in the rudimentary horn of a unicornuate uterus has an incidence of 1 in 76,000 pregnancies; the diagnostic approach is carried out with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging as a complementary study; Early diagnosis with timely treatment is essential for the prevention of associated maternal morbidity and mortality. The objective is to describe the early diagnosis and treatment of a case of 15-week ectopic pregnancy in a rudimentary non-communicating horn of the unicornuate uterus. CASE REPORT: A 38-year-old patient with an asymptomatic 15-week pregnancy was admitted to the emergency department, referred to the ultrasound service for suspected ectopic pregnancy. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging were performed with pregnancy with a single fetus of 15 weeks in the left uterine horn surrounded by myometrium, without communication with the endometrial cavity. With a diagnostic impression of cornual ectopic pregnancy in a patient with a Müllerian malformation, a surgical management was performed where a unicornuate uterus with a rudimentary non-communicating ectopic horn was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: Ectopic pregnancy in rudimentary horn of the unicornuate uterus is rare, it presents a high risk of rupture with increased obstetric morbidity and mortality. The standard treatment as well as the diagnostic confirmation is complete surgical excision.