Management of 14 patients with cornual heterotopic pregnancy following embryo transfer: experience from the past decade

Objective There are two major management approach for cornual heterotopic pregnancy, transvaginal cornual embryo reduction with ultrasound guidance, or laparoscopic cornual resection. This no consensus on the optimal management for cornual heterotopic pregnancy. Here, we are trying to determine the optimal management approach for patients with viable cornual heterotopic pregnancy following embryo transfer. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study conducted at the locally largest reproductive center of a tertiary hospital. A total of 14 women diagnosed as viable cornual heterotopic pregnancy following embryo transfer. Six patients were treated with cornual pregnancy reduction under transvaginal ultrasound guidance without the use of feticide drug (treatment 1), and eight patients were treated with laparoscopic cornual pregnancy resection (treatment 2). Results All 14 patients of cornual heterotopic pregnancy following embryo transfer due to fallopian tubal factor, among which, 12 patients had cornual pregnancy occurred in the ipsilateral uterine horn of tubal pathological conditions. Nine (64.29%) showed a history of ectopic pregnancy. Thirteen (92.86%) patients were transferred with two embryos and only one patient had single embryo transferred. Six patients received treatment 1, and 2 (33.33%) had uterine horn rupture and massive bleeding which required emergency laparoscopic surgery for homostasis. No cornual rupture occurred among patients received treatment 2. Each treatment group had one case of spontaneous miscarriage. The remaining 5 cases in treatment 1 group and the remaining 7 cases in treatment 2 group delivered healthy live offspring. Conclusion Patients with tubal factors attempting for embryo transfer, especially those aiming for multiple embryos transfer, should be informed with risk of cornual heterotopic pregnancy and the subsequent cornual rupture. Compared with cornual pregnancy reduction under transvaginal ultrasound guidance, laparoscopic cornual resection might be a favorable approach for patients with viable cornual heterotopic pregnancy.

A rare case report of cornual pregnancy

Cornual pregnancy is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy in which embryo implants in the junction between the fallopian tube and uterus. Ectopic pregnancy is more common in the ampullary region of the fallopian tube. However, cornual (interstitial) pregnancy is seen in 2-4% of ectopic pregnancies. It is more dangerous than other ectopic as it may lead to catastrophic hemorrhage, shock with mortality rate of 2-2.5%. A cornual pregnancy is diagnosed at 7+3 week of amenorrhea in 27-year-old healthy woman. Ultrasound examination showed a right live cornual pregnancy with CRL corresponding to 6+4week of gestation with fetal heart pulsation. We performed right cornuostomy by laparotomy without any immediate or delayed postoperative complications. Cornual pregnancy poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge; early diagnosis may help to select the proper management and treatment according to the clinical presentation, hemodynamic stability, serum b-hCG level and ultrasound findings. Early diagnosis and management remain the mainstay for tackling maternal mortality due to cornual pregnancy.

Recurrent cornual pregnancy: a case report

Cornual ectopic pregnancy accounts for 2-4% of all the ectopic pregnancies with a mortality rate 6-7 times higher than that of the ectopics in general. It is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to the clinician with a significant risk of rupturing and bleeding. As of yet, the incidence of recurrent cornual ectopic pregnancies is unknown. This report described the case of a patient who developed two cornual ectopic pregnancies within a span of 3 years with an intervening full term normal vaginal delivery. The 1st cornual ectopic was successfully managed by laparoscopic resection, which was followed by an uneventful postoperative course. The following contralateral cornual ectopic was managed by laparotomy since the patient presented with large hemoperitoneum.