Live birth after treatment of a heterotopic cornual pregnancy with fetal intrathoracic KCI. A case report

BACKGROUND: Heterotopic pregnancy, in which an ectopic gestation coexists with an intrauterine one, occurs more frequently following in vitro fertilization than with spontaneous conception. However, it is rare to find an ectopic gestation in the interstitial (or cornual) portion of the fallopian tube. This scenario poses challenges in diagnosis as well as difficulties in managing the cornual pregnancy while maintaining the viability of the intrauterine gestation. CASE: A 29-year-old nulligravida with stage IV endometriosis completed in vitro fertilization for primary infertility. A heterotopic pregnancy involving the right interstitial portion of the fallopian tube as well as a viable singleton intrauterine pregnancy was diagnosed using serial ultrasound. Successful termination of the cornual pregnancy was accomplished by transabdominal fetal intrathoracic injection of KCl under ultrasound guidance. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy reduction of a heterotopic cornual gestation using KCl is a treatment alternative for this uncommon but potentially devastating complication of in vitro fertilization.