Management of interstitial pregnancy using laparoscopic salpingectomy with complete removal of the interstitial portion.

OBJECTIVE

To perform laparoscopic salpingectomy, including the entire interstitial portion of the fallopian tube, in the management of interstitial pregnancy.

DESIGN

A step-by-step explanation of the surgical procedure using video with narration.

SETTING

Obstetrics and Gynecology department of a hospital.

PATIENT(S): A 23-year-old woman, gravida 1 para 0, presented asymptomatically to our hospital to undergo a pregnancy test. Her last menstrual period had occurred 6 weeks previously. Transvaginal ultrasound showed an empty uterine cavity and a right interstitial mass of 3.2 × 2.6 × 2.5 cm. It contained a chorionic sac and an embryonic bud of 0.2 cm long with a heartbeat and the presence of an "interstitial line sign." The myometrial layer surrounding the chorionic sac was 1 mm. The patient's beta-human chorionic gonadotropin level was 10,123 mIU/mL.

INTERVENTION(S): On the basis of the anatomy of the interstitial portion of the fallopian tube, we treated interstitial pregnancy using laparoscopic salpingectomy, with complete removal of the interstitial portion containing the product of conception. The interstitial fallopian tube originates at the tubal ostium and follows a tortuous intramural course, progressing laterally away from the uterine cavity toward the isthmic portion. It is lined by muscular layers and an inner epithelium layer. The main blood supply of the interstitial portion is from the uterine artery's ascending branches to the fundus, extending a branch that supplies the cornu and the interstitial portion. Our approach has 3 key steps: 1) dissecting and coagulating the branch extending from the ascending branches to the fundus of the uterine artery, 2) incising the cornual serosa at the junction of the purple-blue interstitial pregnancy and the normal color myometrium, and 3) resecting the interstitial portion containing the product of conception along the outer layer of the oviduct without rupture.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The interstitial portion containing the product of conception was removed entirely along the outer layer of the fallopian tube as a natural capsule without rupture.

RESULTS(S): The surgery lasted for 43 min, and the volume of intraoperative blood loss was 5 mL. The pathology was confirmatory for interstitial pregnancy. The patient's beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels decreased optimally. She had a normal postoperative course.

CONCLUSION(S): This approach reduces intraoperative blood loss, minimizes myometrial loss and thermal injury, and effectively avoids persistent interstitial ectopic pregnancy. It is not limited by the device used, does not increase the surgery cost, and is greatly useful in treating a selected nonruptured distally or centrally implanted interstitial pregnancy.