Removal of Retained Adherent Placental Remnants Using the Hysteroscopy Endo-Operative System

Removal of retained adherent placental remnants (RAPRs) may be challenging using traditional 5Fr or 7Fr hysteroscopic grasping forceps because they are very small. This is particularly true when the retained placental remnant is large. This video demonstrates the advantages of using the Hysteroscopy Endo-Operative System (HEOS), a specially designed operative hysteroscope with a 13Fr working channel, to remove retained placental remnants.

Step-by-step explanation of the technique using videos and pictures (educative video) (Canadian Task Force Classification III).

Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan, China.

A 32-year-old woman was diagnosed with RAPRs 5 weeks after the evacuation of retained placenta after a spontaneous abortion at 16 weeks' gestation. Gynecologic examination revealed an anterior 8-week uterus and no tenderness. Serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin was 150 mIU/L. Sonography revealed an irregular intrauterine mass, 3.5 cm × 3.5 cm × 3 cm in size.

Removal of RAPRs using HEOS (Sopro-comeg Company, Bordeaux, France).

The operation time was only 12 minutes. The RAPRs were removed completely and quickly in 1 procedure with no complications. The serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin titer normalized 1 week after the procedure. This study was approved by the institutional review board of the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University.

When indicated, removal of RAPRs using HEOS is safe and simple because of its large and strong cold forceps. Additionally, it avoids electrical and thermal injury to the endometrium, which is particularly important in a population that wants to preserve fertility.