Role of collateral embolization in addition to uterine artery embolization followed by hysteroscopic curettage for the management of cesarean scar pregnancy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility, safety and outcome of the embolization of non-gonadal collateral supplying gestational sac (GS) in addition to uterine artery embolization (UAE), followed by hysteroscopic curettage for the management of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP). METHODS: A retrospective study was undertaken from January 2012 to September 2018 in 24 CSP patients in whom non-gonadal collaterals supplying GS were identified by arterial angiography performed immediately after UAE. These patients underwent attempt collateral embolization in addition to UAE, followed by hysteroscopic curettage for the management of CSP. The 24 patients were divided into two groups based on whether they underwent technically successful collateral embolization (UAE-SCE group) or failed collateral embolization (UAE-FCE group) in addition to UAE. The baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes including time for serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels normalization, blood loss, secondary anemia, and pelvic pain were compared between the two groups. The paired t test and Man Whitney test were used for comparisons of discrete and numerical variables, respectively. RESULTS: Collateral embolization was techinically successful in 16 (66.7%, 16/24) patients and failed in the other 8 (33.3%, 8/24) patients. There were no significant differences between the two groups in baseline characteristics. The mean blood loss and secondary anemia in the UAE-SCE group were significantly less than UAE-FCE group. No significant difference was found between the two groups in the mean time for β-hCG levels normalization and pelvic pain. CONCLUSIONS: During the management of UAE combined with hysteroscopic curettage for CSP, additional embolization of non-gonadal collateral supplying GS during UAE is feasible and safe in patients with non-gonadal collateral supplying GS, and the additional embolization of the collateral may reduce blood bloss related to hysteroscopic curettage.