Management of Cesarean Scar Pregnancy Using Ultrasound-Guided Dilation and Curettage

To evaluate the potential risk factors associated with failed ultrasound-guided dilation and curettage (D&C) treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP).

Retrospective study.

University hospital.

Fifty-one patients diagnosed with CSP and treated with ultrasound-guided D&C at Shanghai General Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Lesion resection using ultrasound-guided D&C.

Clinical characteristics, vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, the size of the gestational sac, cardiac motion, blood flow around the gestational sac, cesarean scar thickness, and serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels were compared between the successful operation group and the failed operation group. Cesarean scar thickness was the main risk factor that determined the success of ultrasound-guided D&C. The success rates were 50% and 97.67% for those with cesarean scars <3 mm thick and those with scars >3 mm thick, respectively (p = .001). The success rate was also associated with the abundance of blood flow surrounding the capsule and size of the gestational sac (p < .005). Surgical success was not affected by abnormal vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, cardiac motion, or serum β-hCG levels.

Ultrasound-guided D&C is the first choice for treating CSP if the cesarean scar is >3 mm thick, blood flow is not abundant, and the maximum diameter of the gestational sac is <30 mm. A transabdominal procedure is preferred for patients with high-risk factors.