Post-salpingectomy interstitial heterotopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Heterotopic pregnancy (HP) refers to the coexistence of ectopic pregnancy and intrauterine pregnancy. Salpingectomy is proposed as a pretreatment before in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) to reduce the risk of HP. HP after IVF-ET occurs in women who had already underwent bilateral salpingectomy, even though it is extremely rare.

CASE SUMMARY

A case of a 29-year-old woman with recurrent interstitial HP after IVF-ET following salpingectomy is presented. The main symptom was a sudden and worsening pelvic pain. Physical examinations revealed signs of peritoneal bleeding and irritation with stable vital signs. Transvaginal ultrasound showed a live intrauterine pregnancy and another live embryo with cardiac activity in the left cornu extending beyond the lateral edge of the uterus. Her hemoglobin concentration was 8.0 g/dL, and serum human chorionic gonadotropin value was 171116.9 mIU/mL. With the diagnosis of ruptured HP with internal bleeding, an emergency laparoscopic resection of left cornu was performed. The interstitial pregnancy was removed with caution to protect the intrauterine pregnancy. After the surgical treatment, the intrauterine pregnancy continued with no complications. A healthy baby was delivered by caesarean section at 39 wk. Outcomes of another three cases are further summarized.

CONCLUSION

Post-salpingectomy HP is a rare but challenging condition. Surgical treatment is preferred in the case with a viable intrauterine pregnancy.

Key Words: Heterotopic pregnancy; In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer; Salpingectomy; Surgery; Case report

Core Tip: Our paper presented a rare case of a 29-year-old woman with recurrent interstitial heterotopic pregnancy (HP) after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer following bilateral salpingectomy. We also summarized the outcomes of another three similar cases successfully treated in our department. Furthermore, we reviewed characteristics and outcomes of other reported post-salpingectomy HP cases. Interstitial HP after bilateral salpingectomy is extremely rare and has a high risk of rupture and hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION

Heterotopic pregnancy (HP) refers to the coexistence of ectopic pregnancy (EP) and intrauterine pregnancy and has a very low incidence ,occurring 1 in 30000 spontaneous pregnancies[1]. Due to the widespread use of assisted reproductive techniques, HP after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) has been frequently reported[2]. Salpingectomy has been proposed as a pretreatment before IVF-ET to reduce the risk of HP. Theoretically, the whole visible part of the fallopian tube is removed by salpingectomy, which could prevent EP after IVF-ET. However, HP after IVF-ET even occurs in women who had already underwent bilateral salpingectomy.

Post-salpingectomy HP is an extremely rare but challenging condition, since the ectopic pregnancy must be removed whilst preserving the normal intrauterine pregnancy. Since the interstitial portion is rich in blood supply, it makes the post-salpingectomy interstitial HP an extremely dangerous complication with risks of sudden rupture and severe hemorrhage. Thus, for patients after tubal sterilization, the possibility of HP should not be neglected even with the presence of live intrauterine pregnancies. Previously reported post-salpingectomy HP cases have been reviewed[1-9]. Four of these cases were diagnosed as interstitial HPs (with three ruptured cases), only one of which reported a live birth of the intrauterine pregnancy after treatment. The other three cases experienced abortions.

Here, we report a case of recurrent and ruptured interstitial HP after IVF-ET following bilateral salpingectomy. We further summarize the outcomes and delivery modes of another three similar cases who were treated successfully in our department in the past 5 years.

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaints

A 29-year-old woman presented to our department complaining of worsening pain in the lower left abdominal quadrant. Her last menstrual cycle was 7 wk and 1 d previous.

History of present illness

The pain had started a day before her admission and had been worsened in the last 4 h. An IVF cycle was performed with two frozen embryos transferred 5 wk ago. There were no additional symptoms.

History of past illness

The patient had an obstetric history of gravida 4, para 0-0-3-0. Two years after her first spontaneous abortion, she twice underwent diagnostic hysteroscopy combined with laparoscopy for secondary infertility. Then, she had a history of HP with failing intrauterine pregnancy after ovulation induction treatment. Laparoscopic bilateral salpingectomy and dilation and curettage were performed. After sterilization, she experienced two unsuccessful IVF cycles.

Personal and family history

There is no personal and family history.

Physical examination

The patient’s temperature was 36.5 °C, heart rate was 95 bpm, respiratory rate was 20 breaths per min, blood pressure was 102/67 mmHg, and oxygen saturation was 98%. The general appearance was acute distress. The gynecologic examination revealed bulky uterus and tenderness in the left adnexal area, which showed signs of peritoneal bleeding and irritation but with stable vital signs.

Laboratory examinations

Blood analysis revealed an erythropenia (2.58 × 10¹²/L) and a hemoglobin concentration of 8.0 g/dL with normal leukocyte count and platelet count. Prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times were normal. Serum human chorionic gonadotropin value was 171116.9 mIU/mL. The blood biochemistries and urine analysis were normal.

Imaging examinations

Transvaginal ultrasound showed a live intrauterine pregnancy and another live embryo with cardiac activity in the left cornu extending beyond the lateral edge of the uterus. In addition, free fluid was noted in the cul-de-sac as well as in the abdomen.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

The final diagnosis of the presented case is ruptured HP with internal bleeding after IVF-ET.

TREATMENT

An emergency laparoscopy was performed after discussion with the patient. After suction of blood clots and hemoperitoneum (about 700 mL), a ruptured interstitial pregnancy within the left salpingectomy site (lateral to the insertion of the left round ligament and not connected with uterine cavity) was confirmed (Figure 1). We performed a left cornual resection to remove the interstitial pregnancy, with caution to protect the intrauterine pregnancy.

Figure 1 Transvaginal ultrasound images and laparoscopic excision of the intramural and cornual segment. A: Transvaginal ultrasound showed a live intrauterine pregnancy and another live embryo with cardiac activity in the left cornu and interstitial part; B: The patient was treated by laparoscopic excision of the intramural and cornual segment; C: Transvaginal ultrasound showed a healthy intrauterine fetus after surgery.

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

The pathological report confirmed the presence of trophoblastic tissue in interstitial and intramural portion. The patient’s post-operative course was uneventful. The synchronous intrauterine pregnancy continued with no complications and with appropriate growth of the fetus. A healthy baby was delivered by caesarean section at 39 wk, weighing 3110 g.

We further retrospectively studied cases of post-IVF interstitial HP following bilateral salpingectomy in our department over the past 5 years. The characteristics and outcomes of these 4 cases are listed in Table 1. All of them were treated by laparoscopic excision of the intramural and cornual segment and had very good outcomes for the intrauterine pregnancies.

Table 1 Characteristics of post-sterilization interstitial heterotopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in our department.

No.	Age, yr	Year	Gravida/Para	EP	History of sterilization	GA	Transferred embryos	Main symptom	Ultrasound manifestation	Ectopic site	Bleeding volume	Outcome of intrauterine pregnancy
1	29	2019	G4/P0030	1	Bilateral salpingectomy for HP in 2018	50 d	2 frozen embryos	Abdominal pain	IVE + ECM + PF	Left IP (ruptured)	700 mL	Full-term CS (selective)
2	32	2019	G4/P0030	2	Left salpingectomy for EP in 2013 and right salpingectomy for EP in 2015	66 d	2 fresh embryos	Abdominal pain	IVE + EVE	Left IP	300 mL	Premature CS at 34 wk (fetal distress)
3	36	2018	G4/P1021	1	Right salpingectomy and left tubal ligation for EP in 2015	38 d	2 frozen embryos	Abdominal pain	IVE + ECM + PF	Right IP (ruptured)	1000 mL	Full-term CS (breech position)
4	30	2016	G5/P0040	3	Left salpingectomy for EP in 2007 and right salpingectomy for EP in 2014	49 d	2 fresh embryos	None	IVE + EVE	Left IP	50 mL	Full-term CS (selective)

CS: Caesarean section; ECM: Extrauterine complex mass; EP: Ectopic pregnancy; EVE: Extrauterine viable embryo; GA: Gestational age; IP: Interstitial pregnancy; IVE: Intrauterine viable embryo; PF: Pelvic fluid.

DISCUSSION

As described above, salpingectomy or tube ligation is used to eliminate the risk of HP and improve outcomes of IVF-ET. The mechanism of HP following bilateral salpingectomy is unclear. The remaining interstitial portion of fallopian tube and the formation of a cornual sinus after laparoscopic salpingectomy might be the causative risk factors. Thus, it is important to perform an appropriate laparoscopic sterilization by minimizing tubal residue. Some studies further suggested cornual suture at the time of salpingectomy to help reduce these risks[10].

HP can be treated by expectancy, medical or surgical treatment. If the intrauterine pregnancy is viable, surgical excision of the ectopic pregnancy is a better option. The intrauterine gestations in HP were more likely to end in spontaneous or induced abortion compared with the outcomes of normal intrauterine pregnancies. The rate of live birth after treatment was even lower. Thus, patients could be treated immediately and appropriately to increase the survival rate of the intrauterine pregnancy. In the case of a non-viable intrauterine pregnancy, conservative treatment should be considered if the patient is in stable condition without rupture. The treatment should be personalized.

Previously reported post-salpingectomy interstitial HP cases revealed a high rate of abortion. In the past 5 years, 4 cases of post-sterilization interstitial HP after IVF-ET were successfully treated by laparoscopic resection of the ectopic tissue and ipsilateral cornu in our department. Each of them had an ongoing healthy gestation culminating in a caesarean section with a live birth.

CONCLUSION

Post-salpingectomy interstitial HP should be considered as a separate diagnosis after IVF-ET. Timely diagnosis and immediate treatment are essential to achieve better clinical outcomes. In our experience, laparoscopy is the minimally invasive way to remove the ectopic tissue and preserve the viable intrauterine pregnancy with a very high success rate. Caesarean section is the preferred method of delivery considering the risk of metrorrhexis.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank Institutional Review Board of Ethics Committee of West China Second Hospital for approving this case report for publication.