[Suction evacuation with Methotrexate as a successful treatment modality for caesarean scar pregnancies; case series]

Pregnancy resulting from the implantation of an embryo within a scar of a previous Caesarean section is extremely rare. The diagnosis and treatment of Caesarean scar pregnancies [CSPs] are challenging and the optimal course of treatment is still to be determined. We report a case series of six patients with CSPs who presented to the Royal Hospital in Muscat, Oman, between October 2012 and April 2014. All of the patients were successfully treated with systemic methotrexate and five patients underwent suction evacuation either before or after the methotrexate administration. The patients were followed up for a period of 6-9 weeks after treatment and recovered completely without any significant complications. Suction evacuation with methotrexate can therefore be considered an effective treatment option with good maternal outcomes

Pregnancy in the rudimentary uterine horn case report of an unusual presentation

A unicornuate uterus with a rudimentary horn is a uterine anomaly resulting from the incomplete development of one of the M_llerian ducts and an incomplete fusion with the contralateral side. Pregnancy in a rudimentary horn of the uterus is a rare clinical condition with a reported incidence of 1 in 100,000 to 140,000 pregnancies. Usually the diagnosis is missed and may present as an emergency with haemoperitoneum. The standard treatment is the surgical excision of the horn. A gravida 2, para 1 patient presented at 23 weeks' gestation with fetal demise. Repeated failed attempts at induction of labour raised the suspicion of an abnormally located pregnancy which was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. She underwent a laparotomy with right rudimentary horn excision. The final diagnosis of a non-communicating rudimentary horn pregnancy was made intraoperatively and was confirmed by histopathology. This case highlights the importance of an early ultrasound in detecting uterine anomalies and the need for high clinical suspicion

Mechanical prosthetic valves and pregnancy a therapeutic dilemma of anticoagulation

Choosing the best anticoagulant therapy for a pregnant patient with a mechanical prosthetic valve is controversial and the published international guidelines contain no clear-cut consensus on the best approach. This is due to the fact that there is presently no anticoagulant which can reliably decrease thromboembolic events while avoiding damage to the fetus. Current treatments include either continuing oral warfarin or substituting warfarin for subcutaneous unfractionated heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin [LMWH] in the first trimester [6-12 weeks] or at any point throughout the pregnancy. However, LMWH, while widely-prescribed, requires close monitoring of the blood anti-factor Xa levels. Unfortunately, facilities for such monitoring are not universally available, such as within hospitals in developing countries. This review evaluates the leading international guidelines concerning anticoagulant therapy in pregnant patients with mechanical prosthetic valves as well as proposing a simplified guideline which may be more relevant to hospitals in this region