Pregnancy Complications After Hysteroscopic Metroplasty: A Ten-Year Case-Control Study

INTRODUCTION: Septate uterus is one of the most common congenital uterine anomalies and it may effect female reproductive health causing different obstetric complications, in particular miscarriages and reduction of fertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-control (1:4) comparative study (Canadian Task Force Classification II-2) with the purpose to evaluate pregnancy complications (abnormal fetal presentations, preterm deliveries, and caesarean sections) and reproductive outcome after hysteroscopic metroplasty. We studied retrospectively two groups: 62 women that delivered after metroplasty (group A); and a control group of 248 women with no history of hysteroscopic metroplasty that delivered in the same period in our hospital (group B). RESULTS: The rate of abnormal fetal presentations was significantly higher in study group A versus control group B (22.58% [14/62] vs. 4.03% [10/248], p<0.0001). Caesarean section rate was significantly higher in group A versus group B (66.12% [41/62] vs. 35.08% [87/248], p<0.0001), and preterm deliveries rate was significantly higher in group A versus group B (14.51% [9/62] vs. 6.45% [16/248], p= 0.037). Furthermore, in group A, we observed a significant reduction of the abortion rate and an increase in the total number of live births after metroplasty. CONCLUSIONS: In our series of cases, we have observed a high rate of some pregnancy complications after metroplasty compared to the general population, such as preterm deliveries and fetal malpresentations with a higher rate of caesarean sections. Hysteroscopic metroplasty has been proven to improve the overall reproductive outcome by reducing miscarriage rate and increasing live birth rate. In our opinion, benefits obtained after metroplasty must be considered greater than the adverse pregnancy outcomes observed with our series.