Pregnancy following cesarean scar defect (niche) repair: a cohort study.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to learn the obstetrical outcome of women after laparoscopic niche repair. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study including all women after laparoscopic niche repair done by a single high-skilled surgeon, from July 2014 to March 2019. Data were collected from women's medical records and a telephone interview was performed to assess further symptoms and attempts to conceive, including pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: During the study period, 48 women underwent laparoscopic niche repair, of them complete follow-up was achieved for 37 (78.7%) women. The median residual myometrial thickness measured by ultrasound before the repair was 2.0 mm (IQR 1.4-2.5). Attempts to conceive were reported by 81% (n = 30) of the women, while 18 (60%) achieved pregnancy in median time of 6 month (IQR 5-12) post-niche repair. 14 (78%) of the women conceived spontaneously. No placental abnormalities were reported in any of the women. All gave birth by cesarean delivery at a median of 38.4 gestation week (IQR 37.0-39.5). No dehiscence or rupture was reported. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy following niche repair can be achieved with low pregnancy complication rate and good pregnancy outcomes. Further studies need to be done to strengthen our findings.

Placenta accreta spectrum in subsequent pregnancy following myomectomy.

PURPOSE: To compare the prevalence of placental abnormalities in pregnancy following different modes of operative myomectomy. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study, including all women after myomectomy that gave birth in a single tertiary care center from February 2011 to January 2019. Data was collected from the patients' medical files and completed by telephone questionnaire. Patients were stratified to 3 groups, according to the mode of operative myomectomy (laparotomy, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy). Groups were compared for women demographics, fibroid's characteristics, operative management, post-operative placental evaluation and delivery characteristics. Primary outcome was defined as the need for any intervention for placental separation during the third phase of the delivery. RESULTS: Two hundred forty one women met inclusion criteria. Complete follow-up was achieved in 199 (82.57%) women, of whom 82, 89, and 28 underwent laparoscopic, laparotomy and hysteroscopic myomectomy, respectively. There were no in-between groups differences in women's age, BMI, and gravidity. Disruption of the endometrial cavity during laparoscopy and laparotomy was reported in 3 (3.6%) and 7 (7.8%) cases, respectively (p = .21). During the subsequent pregnancy following myomectomy, placenta accreta spectrum disorder was suspected in only one woman in each of the study groups (p = .63). Placenta previa was low and comparable between groups. Vaginal delivery rate was significantly higher in the hysteroscopy group, as compared to the laparoscopy or the laparotomy groups [11 (36.3%) vs. 5 (6.1%) vs. 4 (4.5%); p = .001], with significantly lower need for manual lysis of the placenta [11(39.0%) vs. 51 (62.1%) vs. 62 (69.7%); p = .01] and further interventions for blood loss control. CONCLUSIONS: Subsequent pregnancy following surgical myomectomy was not found to be associated with higher prevalence placental abnormality. Furthermore, other than manual lysis, the different modes of myomectomy did not necessitate any further intervention for complications associated with abnormal placentation requiring intervention. KEY MESSAGE: Subsequent pregnancy following surgical myomectomy is not associated with higher prevalence of placental abnormality.