Management of uterine artery pseudoaneurysm: advanced ultrasonography imaging and laparoscopic surgery as an alternative method to angio-computed tomography and transarterial embolization

Introduction

Uterine artery pseudoaneurysms (UAP) are rare and potentially life-threatening lesions. Their actual prevalence rate remains unknown. The UAPs may occur after using an intrauterine device, traumatic delivery, pregnancy termination, cesarean section, manual placenta removal, forceps delivery, vacuum extraction, or dilatation and curettage (D&C) [1–3]. An injury of the uterine artery wall during a traumatic procedure remains the main cause of UAP presentation. Blood dissects into peri-arterial tissues after the injury and creates a perfused sac, which communicates with the artery lumen [3, 4]. If the blood is fully covered by the adventitia or the surrounding tissues, a pseudoaneurysm is formed. Blood fills the sac during systole and flows away during diastole [5]. The UAPs rarely reach more than 30 mm in diameter [6]. Their clinical symptoms vary, or they can be asymptomatic, but in some cases they may cause pelvic pain or heavy uterine bleeding [1, 5].
The differential diagnosis of UAPs includes acquired and congenital arteriovenous malformations (AVM), consisting of a web of mixed arteries and veins [7]. The diagnosis of UAP involves color and spectral Doppler sonography, with secondary confirmation by angiography. Angiography is considered a gold standard for the confirmation of uterine vascular lesions. The main disadvantage of computed tomography (CT) angiography is its invasive character [5–8]. Pseudoaneurysms have a characteristic sonographic appearance, manifesting as a pulsating anechoic or hypoechoic structure connected to the parent artery by a thin vascular neck. Spectral Doppler presents turbulent arterial blood flow with a ‘to and fro’ pattern in UAPs [4, 5, 8].
Arterial embolization, being a fertility-preserving treatment, is a method of choice in the management of UAP. Embolization of the uterine arteries is an effective and safe way of controlling the clinical symptoms of UAP in centers experienced in intravascular therapy. Hysterectomy is recommended for postmenopausal patients [3, 6, 8, 9]. Laparoscopic methods are reported rarely [10].

Case report

We present a case of a 39-year-old woman who was admitted to the hospital after an episode of severe vaginal bleeding (the third episode in the course of 1 month). Her medical history revealed D&C (blighted ovum) 2 years previously. On admission, speculum examination revealed a few small blood clots in the vagina. There were no signs of fresh bleeding. A pulsating enlargement of the uterine fundus was found on palpation. The red blood cell count was 3.64 mln/µl, hemoglobin level was 9.4 g/dl, and serum -HCG was negative.
Examination of the upper abdomen was negative. 2D transvaginal scan revealed a hypoechogenic, pulsating structure, approximately 22 × 30 × 23 mm in size, located on the left side of the uterine fundus. Color Doppler presented a swirl of colors (‘yin-yang’ symbol) and spectral Doppler presented a typical ‘to and fro’ pattern. 3D ultrasonography with power Doppler HD flow mapping was used for a more detailed examination and a connection between the vascular mass and the uterine artery was found (Photo 1).
Medical history and symptoms were deemed insufficient to suggest an invasive treatment. Importantly, the patient reported an allergy to iodine, so we decided to avoid CT angiography and based our diagnosis solely on the sonographic findings. The patient refused uterine artery embolization. Given her age and desire to preserve fertility, we proposed a diagnostic hysteroscopy and laparoscopic uterine artery ligation or excision of the vascular lesion.
Hysteroscopy revealed a pulsating vascular structure in the recess, just upon the uterotubal junction. We did not put the hysteroscope any further due to the high risk of heavy bleeding. The laparoscopy was performed with two 5 mm operational incisions and one 10 mm optic (umbilical) incision. Laparoscopy revealed an enlarged left side of the uterine fundus (Photo 2). After the incision of the parametrium, the ascending part of the uterine artery was partially dissected in the direction of the change. Ligation of the artery branch was performed in the middle of its length to provide accurate hemostasis during pseudoaneurysm dissection. The uterine fundus was cut with the scissors on the left side in the expected location of the lesion. The vascular lesion was partially enucleated and then excised. The incision site was equipped with laparoscopic sutures. The previous shape of the uterus was recreated and complete hemostasis was achieved (Photo 3). Post-reconstruction hysteroscopy and chromopertubation were performed to ensure patency of both Fallopian tubes (Photo 4). No sutures were found within the uterine cavity. No complications occurred during surgery or postoperatively. Color and power Doppler sonography performed a day later presented no signs of the previously seen mass. Permanent symptom resolution was achieved, and the patient is now in the third month of follow-up.

Discussion

Due to the long interval between vessel injury and the occurrence of the clinical symptoms, the present case remains baffling. Possibly, the injury was not severe enough to cause serious bleeding and the artery wall was thinning slowly.
We are of the opinion that grayscale ultrasonography is insufficient in patients with a history of heavy vaginal bleeding. Color, spectral and power Doppler imaging should be considered in every symptomatic patient or in cases of heavy bleeding after a history of uterine surgery, etc. [4, 5, 7, 11]. 3D ultra-sonography can also be a valuable diagnostic method. In selected groups, ultrasonography allows for a more accurate diagnosis and earlier treatment [11]. We also believe that advanced ultrasonography can be equivalent to angio-CT in some patients.
Pseudoaneurysm is a pathology with a high risk of heavy, uncontrollable vaginal bleeding. Interventional therapy is necessary in severe bleedings, anemia, or in patients with further reproductive plans. Before transarterial embolization (TAE) developed and became a gold standard, hysterectomy was the most common method to treat UAP [12]. Other less radical procedures, including removal of the pseudoaneurysm, laparoscopic coagulation of the uterine artery, and unilateral ligation of the uterine artery, have been seldom reported [5, 9, 10].
The choice of the therapeutic option depends on the risk of severe hemorrhage and the possible adverse events. Every patient needs to be fully informed about all adverse events related to the embolization procedure, especially thromboembolism of the lower extremities or formation of a vesicovaginal fistula. Therapy individualization depends on the size, shape, and clinical presentation of the pseudoaneurysm, as well as further reproductive plans of the affected patients. One of the most important predictors of further reproduction is tubal patency, which was maintained in this patient [13]. In our case, the woman refused embolization due to the fear of complications she had witnessed when her father underwent coronary angiography. We believe that laparoscopic surgery can be an alternative to embolization – pending a successful case series with a long-term follow-up [5, 6, 9, 12]. During laparoscopy, a surgeon can either close the feeding vessel or excise the pathological tissue. In our opinion, this method offers a permanent solution to the problem and may be an alternative in some cases of uterine artery pseudoaneurysm.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Received: 16.09.2016, accepted: 29.01.2017.