LONG-TERM RISKS OF CESAREAN DELIVERY: CESAREAN SCAR PREGNANCY. A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

One type of ectopic pregnancy is where the pregnancy is implanted in the scar left in the uterus following a cesarean section; these cases are thought to be one in 1800-3000 pregnancies. The increase in the incidence of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a consequence of the increasing rates of cesarean delivery. If misdiagnosed CSP can be a cause of life-threatening pregnancy complications. They include morbidly adherent placenta, placenta previa, and severe hemorrhage. If such a pregnancy is allowed to continue, a uterine scar rupture with hemorrhage will ensue and necessitate hysterectomy. It is therefore crucial to timely diagnose and manage these pregnancies. The therapeutic options can be medical, surgical, or a combination of both. However there has been no consensus on the management still yet. In this article, there is a systematic up-to-date review on CSP diagnosis, treatment and prevention measures.

Keywords

• cesarean section
• ectopic pregnancy
• cesarean scar pregnancy
• pregnancy complications
• hemorrhage during pregnancy