Cesarean Scar Pregnancy Managed by Dilatation and Evacuation (D&E) Versus Hysteroscopic Surgery

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a relative new type of ectopic pregnancy where the fertilized egg is implanted in the muscle or fibrous tissue of the scar after a previous cesarean section. A recent review amounts almost 31 different treatment modalities for CSP. A broad spectrum of options represents a real challenge for the health care provider. The choice may be made among expectant management, medical treatment, local treatment and surgical approach, also combined together. There is insufficient evidence to recommend any one specific intervention over another for caesarean scar pregnancy. Future studies are needed to define the optimal management of pregnancy for caesarean section scars. Thus, we aim to compare the success rate of two different treatment of CSP: the medical management by using two-dose of Methotrexate (MTX) followed by dilation and evacuation (D&E) compared to single dose of two-dose of Methotrexate followed by hysperoscopic approach.

Detailed Description
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Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a relative new type of ectopic pregnancy where the fertilized egg is implanted in the muscle or fibrous tissue of the scar after a previous cesarean section. Since the first description of cesarean scar pregnancy in 1978, its frequency has increased dramatically due to the significant increase in the percentage of cesarean section and development of transvaginal (TV) ultrasonography (US). The overall incidence of CSP is 1 in 1,800 to 1 in 2,200 pregnancies, it means 0.05-0.04% of all pregnancies. In women after a cesarean section, the frequency of CSP is approximately 0.15%, which constitutes 6.1% of all ectopic pregnancies in patients after at least one cesarean operation. The risk factors that favour implantation in the CS scar are not well understood; therefore, there are no guidelines for the practicing physicians to determine the women at risk. Uterine surgery, anomalous healing of the scar, previous preterm CS without labour or a term elective CS, breech presentation at previous CS short intervals between the CSP and last pregnancy, last pregnancy ended with abortion may be some of the risk factors for CSP. Although the 15% of CSPs remain undiagnosed, developed egographic techniques and several new US signs of CSP invasiveness are allowing ever better diagnoses. Cali et al. tested the hypothesis the relationship between the gestational sac of the CSP, previous caesarean scar and the anterior uterine wall can be used to predict the evolution of these cases. In order to do this, they propose a new sonographic sign, the cross-over sign (COS) . This echographic sign is reflected in the clinical presentation of the CSP, so we can divide the patients into two different groups: type I endogenic type characterized by the COS2 insertion, ance type II exogenic type characterized by COS1 insertion, the latter with worse outcomes in term of maternal morbidity and mortality. A recent review amounts almost 31 different treatment modalities for CSP. A broad spectrum of options represents a real challenge for the health care provider. The choice may be made among expectant management, medical treatment, local treatment and surgical approach, also combined together. There is insufficient evidence to recommend any one specific intervention over another for caesarean scar pregnancy. Future studies are needed to define the optimal management of pregnancy for caesarean section scars. Thus, we aim to compare the success rate of two different treatment of CSP: the medical management by using two-dose of Methotrexate (MTX) followed by dilation and evacuation (D&E) compared to single dose of two-dose of Methotrexate followed by hysperoscopic approach.

Official Title
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Cesarean Scar Pregnancy Managed by Dilatation and Evacuation (D&E) Versus Hysteroscopic Surgery

Conditions
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Scar; Previous Cesarean Section

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: hysteroscopic


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Singleton gestations; 18 years to 50 years; Diagnosis of CSP; Gestational age ≤ 8 weeks and 6 days; Therapy with systemic Methotrexate 2-dose; Thickness of myometrial layer ≥2 mm. Exclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of cervical pregnancy, aborting intrauterine pregnancy, or any other anomalous implantation site; Gestational age >8 weeks and 6 days; Heavy vaginal bleeding at the time of randomization; Women who did not received Methotrexate or received a single dose or a local dose; Thickness of myometrial layer <2 mm Women who are unconscious, ill, mentally handicapped; Women under the age of 18 years or over the age of 50 years.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Dilatation and Evacuation (D&E)<br>Women in this group will receive an in-patient treatment with Dilatation and Evacuation (D&E) after two doses of Methotrexate . | Procedure: hysteroscopic<br>* Women in the intervention group will receive an inpatient treatment with two-dose of Methotrexate followed by hysteroscopic resection under ultrasound guidance<br>|
| Experimental: hysteroscopic surgery<br>Women in this group will receive hysteroscopic surgery after two doses of Methotrexate . | Procedure: hysteroscopic<br>* Women in the intervention group will receive an inpatient treatment with two-dose of Methotrexate followed by hysteroscopic resection under ultrasound guidance<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| success rate of treatment protocols, | defined as no further treatment required until the complete resolution of the scar pregnancy. | resolution of scar pregnancy, day 7 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Further treatment required until the complete resolution of the scar pregnancy | Further treatment required until the complete resolution of the CSP (repeat administration of methotrexate (MTX) and/or other surgical procedures), | resolution of scar pregnancy, day 7 | 
| histerectomy | histerectomy | resolution of scar pregnancy, day 7 | 
| Maternal transfusion | Maternal transfusion | resolution of scar pregnancy, day 7 |