Successful non-surgical management of a heterotopic abdominal pregnancy following embryo transfer with cryopreserved-thawed embryos.

Abstract

Heterotopic pregnancy is an increasingly common complication of assisted reproductive technology. Abdominal pregnancy is a rare and life-threatening form of ectopic pregnancy that can present as the extrauterine portion of a heterotopic pregnancy. We present the case of a cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer that resulted in a simultaneous intrauterine and abdominal pregnancy first recognized at 10 weeks gestation. Ultrasound-guided transvaginal injection of potassium chloride into the abdominal pregnancy resulted in asystole and spontaneous resorption of the ectopic fetus, while the intrauterine pregnancy continued and resulted in a liveborn vaginal delivery at full term. Selective embryo reduction using a non-surgical approach in a haemodynamically stable patient can therefore be considered in the management of heterotopic abdominal pregnancy if diagnosed relatively early.

• Authors: M D Scheiber, M I Cedars
• Journal: Human reproduction (Oxford, England) (Hum Reprod) Vol. 14 Issue 5 Pg. 1375-7 (May 1999) ISSN: 0268-1161 [Print] England
• PMID: 10325297 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Potassium Chloride

Topics

• Adult
• Cryopreservation
• Embryo Transfer
• Female
• Humans
• Injections
• Potassium Chloride (therapeutic use)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal
• Pregnancy, Abdominal (therapy)
• Treatment Outcome
• Ultrasonography, Prenatal
• Vagina