Caesarean scar pregnancy: diagnosis, natural history and treatment

This review aims at summarizing the latest evidence on diagnosis, natural history and management of caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP).

CSP can result in maternal morbidity from major haemorrhage, uterine rupture, placenta accreta spectrum disorders and hysterectomy. Classification of the CSP types, presence of fetal heart activity, gestational age and residual myometrial thickness seem to influence rates of ongoing pregnancy, subsequent development of placenta accreta with expectant management, as well as success and complication rates associated with various methods of pregnancy termination. Expectant management may be appropriate in certain good prognosis cases, such as absent fetal heart activity or when the myometrial layer at the implantation site is relatively thick. Surgical treatments are typically associated with higher success rates, but seem to result in severe haemorrhage more frequently than medical treatments, which have higher failure rates. Although other treatment modalities are available, in general, the size and quality of evidence to guide care provision in CSP is very poor.

CSP can be associated with severe maternal morbidity but can also lead to a livebirth. There is currently a lack of good-quality evidence to predict the outcome of CSP and provide informed and evidence-based care.