An isthmocele appears as a fluid pouchlike defect in the anterior uterine wall at the site of a prior cesarean section and ranges in prevalence from 19% to 84%, a direct relation to the increase in cesarean sections performed worldwide. Many definitions have been suggested for the dehiscence resulting from cesarean sections, and we propose standardization with a single term for all cases-isthmocele. Patients are not always symptomatic, but symptoms typically include intermittent abnormal bleeding, pain, and infertility. Pregnancy complications that result from an isthmocele include ectopic pregnancy, low implantation, and uterine rupture. Magnetic resonance imaging and transvaginal ultrasound are the gold standard imaging techniques for diagnosis. Surgical treatment of an isthmocele is still a controversial issue but should be offered to symptomatic women or the asymptomatic patient who desires future pregnancy. When surgery is the treatment choice, laparoscopy guided by hysteroscopy, hysteroscopy alone, or vaginal repair are the best options depending on the isthmocele's characteristics and surgeon expertise.
PMID 29024799 29024799 DOI 10.1016/j.jmig.2017.09.022 10.1016/j.jmig.2017.09.022
Cite this article
Setubal, A., Alves, J., Osório, F., Guerra, A., Fernandes, R., Albornoz, J., & Sidiroupoulou, Z. (2018). Treatment for Uterine Isthmocele, A Pouchlike Defect at the Site of a Cesarean Section Scar. Journal of minimally invasive gynecology, 25(1), 38-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2017.09.022
Setubal A, Alves J, Osório F, Guerra A, Fernandes R, Albornoz J, et al. Treatment for Uterine Isthmocele, A Pouchlike Defect at the Site of a Cesarean Section Scar. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2018;25(1):38-46. doi:10.1016/j.jmig.2017.09.022
Setubal, Antonio, et al. "Treatment for Uterine Isthmocele, A Pouchlike Defect at the Site of a Cesarean Section Scar." Journal of minimally invasive gynecology, vol. 25, no. 1, 2018, pp. 38-46.
To evaluate the efficacy of surgical management for isthmoceles in patients presenting with secondary infertility. A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to May 2020. The search was limited to studies published in English. After the removal of duplicates, 3380 articles were screened for inclusion independently by 2 authors. These 2 authors assessed for studies which focused on women of reproductive age with a diagnosed isthmocele and secondary infertility who underwent any surgical intervention for defect repair with at least 1 of the goals being fertility restoration. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, A total of 13 studies, comprising of 1 randomized controlled trial, 6 prospective case series, and 6 retrospective case series describing 234 patients who underwent surgical management for an isthmocele and secondary infertility were included. The methodologic quality of the included studies was assessed independently by both reviewers. Next, the data extraction was performed independently and then compared to ensure no discrepancies. A total of 188 patients were treated by hysteroscopy, 36 by laparoscopy, 7 by laparotomy, and 3 through a vaginal approach. In total, 153 of the 234 patients (65.4%) achieved pregnancy across all studies within their respective study periods. Pregnancy rates in the randomized controlled trial were 21 of 28 (75%) for those treated by hysteroscopy compared with 9 of 28 (32%) for those untreated. Among the studies reporting pregnancy outcomes, 101 of 116 (87.1%) pregnancies resulted in a live birth. The incidence of adverse events was 2%, including the risk of reoperation. The results of this systematic review suggest that the surgical treatment of an isthmocele, particularly through hysteroscopy, in patients with residual myometrial thickness of at least 2.5 mm, may be effective in treating isthmocele-associated secondary infertility with a relatively low complication rate. Further high-quality studies are needed because of the small sample sizes and observational nature of most available data.
Dominguez JA et al., 2023·Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol
The purpose of this State-of-the-Art Review was to provide a strategic analysis, in terms of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis), of the current evidence regarding the management of uterine isthmocele (Cesarean scar defect). Strengths include the fact that isthmocele can be diagnosed on two-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound, and that surgical repair may restore natural fertility potential and prevent secondary infertility, as well as reduce the risk of miscarriage and other obstetric complications. However, there is a lack of high-quality evidence regarding the best diagnostic method and criteria, as well as the potential benefits of surgical repair with respect to fertility. There is a need for experienced surgeons skilled in the various isthmocele repair techniques. Isthmocele repair does not prevent the need for Cesarean delivery in subsequent pregnancies. There is increasing awareness regarding the accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound in diagnosing isthmocele. This may lead to surgical correction and prevention of obstetric and perinatal complications in subsequent pregnancies, including Cesarean scar pregnancy. Regarding threats, the existence of different surgical techniques means that there is a risk of selecting an inadequate approach if the type of isthmocele and the patient's characteristics are not considered. There is a risk of overtreatment when asymptomatic defects are repaired surgically. Finally, there is an absence of cost-effectiveness analyses to justify routine repair. Thus, while there are many data suggesting that isthmocele has an adverse effect on both natural fertility and the outcome of assisted reproduction techniques, high-quality evidence to support surgical isthmocele repair in all asymptomatic patients desiring future fertility are lacking. There is increasing agreement to recommend hysteroscopic repair of isthmocele as a first-line approach as long as the residual myometrial thickness is at least 2.5-3.0 mm.
EndometriosisRecurrence After ExcisionRetrograde Menstruation TheoryFallopian Tube Patency
Neutens S et al., 2026·Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology
To study whether bilateral nonpatency of fallopian tubes is correlated with a lower recurrence rate of endometriosis. Retrospective 2:1 matched case-control study. University hospital with a tertiary referral center for fertility and endometriosis surgery in Leuven, Belgium. All patients undergoing complete laparoscopic excision of any revised system of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine-stage endometriosis between 2010 and 2014 (n = 896). Comparison between patients with bilateral nonpatent or absent fallopian tubes and matched controls with at least 1 patent fallopian tube. MAIN Primary outcome was the recurrence rate, which was analyzed on 4 overall recurrence, symptom recurrence, recurrence on imaging, and need for reintervention. Of 896 patients, 49 had bilateral nonpatent or absent fallopian tubes. These cases were compared with 98 matched controls with at least 1 patent fallopian tube. Symptoms recurred in 12.2% of the cases (n = 6) and 25.5% of the controls (n = 25) (p = .09). Recurrence was confirmed by imaging in 8% of the cases (n = 4) and 10.2% of the controls (n = 10) (p = .77). In 3 patients of the case group and 12 patients of the control group, there was a need for reintervention (p = .39). Within this subgroup, recurrence of endometriosis was histologically confirmed in none of the patients of the case group and 5 patients of the control group (p = .51). This study did not observe a statistically significant reduction in endometriosis recurrence in patients with bilateral occlusion/absence of the fallopian tubes after endometriosis surgery. A type II error may count for this result.
To compare outcomes of vaginal surgery in women with moderate or severe symptomatic cesarean scar defect (with or without residual myometrium).
Retrospective cohort study.
Gynecology department of a teaching hospital. Fifty-three women, between January 2014 and December 2019, underwent vaginal surgery for symptomatic 20 women with moderate defect (with residual myometrium) and 33 with severe defect (without residual myometrium). Vaginal surgical approach to repair cesarean scar defect. MAIN surgery by comparing the myometrial residual thickness before and after surgery. The secondary objectives were evaluation of vaginal surgery efficacy on symptoms resolution, per and postoperative courses, and subsequent fertility. Failure rate was evaluated as the need for a second surgery. After vaginal surgery, the residual myometrium significantly increased from 2.4 mm ± 0.9 mm to 6.6 mm ± 2.4 mm (p <.01) in the moderate group and from 0 mm to 4.4 mm ± 2.2 mm (p <.01) in the severe group. The prevalence of abnormal uterine bleeding was significantly reduced after surgery in both groups (p <.01). Pelvic pain was significantly reduced only in the moderate group (p <.01). The rate of complications (5% vs 9.1%) and second surgery (15% vs 24.2%) were not significantly different between moderate and severe groups, respectively. The median time to conceive (7 months vs 12 months); pregnancy rates (84.6% vs 68.2%); and live birth rates (76.9% vs 50%) were not statistically significant in the moderate and severe groups respectively, with 90% of pregnancies occurring naturally. Women delivered by cesarean section at 38 weeks of gestation in both groups, and no uterine rupture was reported. Despite the absence of residual myometrium, vaginal repair of severe cesarean scar defect was effective in increasing myometrial thickness, in relieving bleeding symptoms, and in allowing to achieve pregnancy.