Efficacy of local absolute ethanol injection for the management of ectopic pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
摘要
Current medical and surgical treatments for ectopic pregnancy are associated with significant adverse effects, highlighting the need for safer alternatives. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the efficacy of ultrasonography-guided local absolute ethanol injection into trophoblastic tissue for managing ectopic pregnancy at various sites, including tubal, cervical, interstitial, cesarean scar, and peritoneal locations.
MethodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library on January 16, 2024. The primary outcome was treatment success, defined as declining beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels, while ectopic pregnancy resolution time was the duration from ethanol injection to beta-human chorionic gonadotropin reaching the negative level for pregnancy (< 5 mIU/mL). Study quality was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Clinical Appraisal Tools. Using STATA 18, we conducted a random-effects meta-analysis to determine pooled success rates and compare them with laparoscopic surgery.
ResultsSix retrospective studies encompassing a total of 432 patients were included, with all meeting quality thresholds on JBI appraisal. The ectopic pregnancy site distribution was as follows: tubal (n = 3), cervical (n = 3), interstitial (n = 3), cesarean scar (n = 3), and peritoneal (n = 1). Mean baseline beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels ranged from 1641.9 to 35,640.0 mIU/mL, with four studies including cases of fetal cardiac activity. The procedure’s success rate varied between 84 and 100%, with a pooled estimate of 93.3% (95% CI 89.1–97.6%; p-value < 0.001; I2 = 66.7%). Only one study reported self-resolving peritoneal irritation; no other complications were documented. Furthermore, only one study compared ethanol injection versus laparoscopic surgery, demonstrating lower success rates in our meta-analysis (log odds ratio = − 1.803 [95% CI − 3.382, − 0.224]; p-value = 0.025).
ConclusionsLocal absolute ethanol injection to the trophoblastic tissue appears to be a potentially effective treatment for ectopic pregnancy, demonstrating high success rates and minimal side effects. However, the limited number of studies, small sample sizes, and heterogeneity necessitate further large-scale comparative trials for validation.
Protocol registrationThe review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on 10/4/2024 under the registration code CRD42024530622.