Video Presentation AGES XXVIII Annual Scientific Meeting 2018

Laparoscopic repair of caesarean scar defect (5518)

Dean Conrad 1 , Tal Saar 1 , Karen Kong 2 , Stefaan Pacquee 1 , David Rosen 1 , Gregory Cario 1 , Danny Chou 1 , Michael Chapman 1 2
  1. SWEC, Sydney
  2. IVF Australia, Sydney

Caesarean scar defect, or isthmocele, is a reservoir type pouch on the anterior wall of the uterine isthmus caused by inappropriate healing of the lower segment incision after caesarean section (1). The incidence of caesarean scar defects is reported to be as high as 84%, and is increasing due to the rising rates of caesarean sections worldwide (2). Caesarean scar defects may be asymptomatic, or cause a number of gynaecologic and obstetric sequealae, including abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain, infertility and ectopic scar pregnancy (3). There is no current consensus on the ideal treatment for caesarean scar defects, with most evidence being limited to case reports.

This video demonstrates the case of a 32 year old para 3 female (three previous caesarean sections) who presented with a caesarean scar ectopic on routine first trimester ultrasound scan. Emergency laparoscopic surgery was performed to evacuate her ectopic pregnancy. Follow up imaging with hysterosalpingogram and pelvic ultrasound confirmed the presence of a caesarean scar defect. She underwent definitive treatment 3 months after her initial surgery with laparoscopic excision of the caesarean scar defect under hysteroscopic guidance.

  1. 1. Morris H. Surgical pathology of the lower uterine segment caesarean section scar: is the scar a source of clinical symptoms? Int J Gynecol Pathol. 1995;14(1):16–20.
  2. 2. Bij de Vaate AJ, van der Voet LF, Naji O, Witmer M, Veersema S, Brolmann HA, et al. Prevalence, potential risk factors for development and symptoms related to the presence of uterine niches following Cesarean section: systematic review. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2014;43(4):372–82.
  3. 3. Masuda H, Uchida H, Maruyama T, et al. Successful treatment of atypical caesarean scar defect using endoscopic surgery. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (2015) 15:342.
  • Have you presented oral, video or DCS at an AGES meeting before?: Yes
  • Are you a trainee and if so at what level?: 5
  • Are you a subspecialists or AGES member?: Yes