Local intra-gestational sac methotrexate injection followed by dilation and curettage in treating cesarean scar pregnancy.

PURPOSE

To assess the safety and efficacy of local intra-gestational sac methotrexate injection followed by dilation and curettage (D&C) in treating cesarean scar pregnancies (CSP).

METHOD

Medical records of CSP patients treated with local intra-gestational sac methotrexate injection followed by dilation and curettage were analyzed at the Maternal and Child Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients were included in this study. The mean gestational age, sac diameter and thickness of the uterine scar were 49.6 ± 7.7 days, 1.8 ± 0.6 cm and 0.30 ± 0.15 cm, respectively. The median pretreatment serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) level was 40,887 mIU/mL, with the 25th and 75th percentiles at 19,852 and 74,552, respectively. The median blood loss during D&C was 20 mL with the 25th and 75th percentiles at 10 mL and 50 mL. Following D&C, a Foley's balloon catheter compression was implanted in 26 (83.9%) patients due to active uterine bleeding. All patients had a β-HCG regression time of ≤ 4 weeks after D&C. While 30 patients (96.8%) had a uterine recovery time of ≤ 4 weeks, and 29 patients (93.5%) had resumption of menstruation of less than 6 weeks. Three patients (9.7%) had complications. One of them suffered from massive vaginal bleeding and underwent s blood transfusion. There were no other complications, such as pelvic infection and uterine rupture during the procedures. And no patient was converted to surgical resection or uterine artery embolization. Overall, 30 patients (96.8%) were treated successfully.

CONCLUSION

Local intra-gestational sac methotrexate injection followed by D&C with the aid of a Foley's balloon catheter compression appears to be a safe and effective treatment for CSP. Further randomized controlled trials are suggested to confirm these findings.