Management of Cervical Ectopic Pregnancies: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Objective: To investigate published cases of cervical ectopic pregnancy between 2000 and 2018 and compare management strategies and treatment success rates based on initial patient characteristics.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched to capture peer-reviewed citations published between 2000 and 2018. Cases reporting either β-hCG level, crown-rump length, or gestational sac diameter for each individual patient were included. Data regarding the article information, patient characteristics, treatment used, and outcomes were collected. Initial success was defined as resolution of the cervical ectopic pregnancy with the predefined treatment plan. Initial failure was defined as the requirement of additional unplanned interventions due to the predefined treatment plan not being successful. End success was defined as resolution of the cervical ectopic pregnancy without hysterectomy.

Results: A total of 204 articles from 44 countries comprising 454 cases were reviewed. The initial β-hCG level ranged from 9 to 286,500, with a median of 14,773, and gestational age ranged from 4 to 18 weeks, with an average of 7 4/7 weeks (±2 0/7 weeks). In looking at initial success, compared with methotrexate alone, dilation, and curettage (odds ratio [OR] 2.26; 95% CI 2.64-10.45), dilation and curettage combined with uterine artery embolization (OR 4.85; 95% CI 2.06-11.44) and uterine artery embolization (OR 5.17; 95% CI 1.14-23.53) were more effective options. More than half of patients (50.2%) required multiple interventions, and 41 (9%) resulted in hysterectomy.

Conclusions: Management of cervical ectopic pregnancies should be guided by patient stability, β-hCG level, size of pregnancy, and fetal cardiac activity but may benefit from a planned multimodal approach.