Can Incarceration of Uterus between 14 - 17 Wks. Be Managed by General Anaesthesia Only? A Second Reported Case

This is a case of primigravida of 35 years of age having spontaneous conception & 14.5 wks. pregnancy with retention of urine and pain in lower abdomen for 5 days. There was history of unsuccessful attempt of correction of retroversion one day prior. Transabdominal USG (ultrasonography) confirmed 14.5 wks. live pregnancy with incarceration of uterus. In this case , only GA (general anaesthesia) corrected retroversion & incarceration.

• Incarceration
• USG
• GA
• Retention of Urine
• 14 - 20 Wks. Pregnancy

1. Background

Uterine incarceration is an unexpected complication in the 2^nd trimester of pregnancy irrespective of parity. Predisposing factors as pelvic adhesions, fundal fibroids, septate uterus, bicornuate uterus, deep sacral cavity with overhanging sacral promontory may go unnoticed when patient comes with pregnancy [1] [2] [3] [4] . Uterine incarceration can also occur in the absence of the predisposing factors [5] . We see about 11% patients with retroverted uterus in the first trimester of pregnancy without problem. Spontaneous correction of the uterus to anteversion occurs between 12 and 16 wks., but in 1.4% this does not occur [1] [6] .

In some of these cases, retroverted uterus becomes incarcerated in the pelvic cavity, and the cervix is displaced anteriorly. This causes elongation of the urethra and compression of the bladder neck against pubic symphysis and urinary retention. Unrecognized incarceration of uterus may cause premature rupture of membrane, the 2^nd trimester abortion & preterm delivery. Serious maternal and fetal complications such as bladder rupture, urinary retention, hydronephrosis, and renal failure, result from compression of the bladder and urethra, as well as uterine rupture and uterine wall necrosis resulting from excess stretching of the uterine wall, rectal gangrene, cervicovaginal fistula, and thrombosis [7] [8] [9] [10] .

2. Case Presentation

A 35 years primigravida with Ht: 168 cm, Wt: 62 kg, BMI: 22 with 14.5 wks. pregnancy presented with acute retention of urine for 5 days for which self-retaining catheter was inserted. There was associated lower abdominal pain which was not relieved. She had spontaneous conception & there was no significant past history. There was history of failed attempt of manual correction of retroversion without anaesthesia 1 day back. On examination her vitals were, pulse: 84/min, B.P.: 120/70 mm of Hg, SpO₂: 99%. Per abdominal examination uterus was not palpable. There was tenderness in lower abdomen. She refused per speculum & prevaginal examination because of pain. Trans abdominal USG had findings of single live intrauterine pregnancy of 14.5 wks. maturity. No gross malformations seen. Cervix flat anteriorly placed (red arrow) with bladder in front of it (white arrow) with fundus of the uterus in sacral hollow (green arrow). Posterior wall of uterus is in contact with posterior cervix (yellow arrow). (Figures 1-3) [8] . Additionally, we reported thin uterine walls (thickness compared with wall after correction). No adnexal mass or pelvic mass or uterine torsion was seen.MRI was not done as diagnosis was clear. Her blood investigations were normal but urine microscopy examination reported 20 - 25 pus cells. Urine culture had E coli isolated with colony count > 100,000 CFU/ml. Antibiotics were started as per sensitivity report. Antibiotic sensitivity report revealed sensitivity to aminoglycosides & carbapenems and resistant to penicillin, cephalosporins, b-lactamase inhibitors and quinolones. Patients were treated by intravenous amikacin in dose of 500 mg bd for 7 days.

Patient was scheduled after counselling for spontaneous correction or manual correction or laparoscopic surgery under GA depending upon the weather incarceration gets corrected before invasive procedure (laparoscopy) on the next day of admission. Patient was kept fasting overnight. In the operation theatre patient was given lithotomy position in awake state and painting and draping was done. GA was gradually instituted.

3. Protocol for GA

Standard monitoring of ECG, NBP, SPO₂, TEMP, RR was applied and premedication of Injection glycopyrrolate 0.2 mg and Injection Fentanyl 60 mcg (1 mcg/kg) was given IV. Nasal O₂ was started.

Patient was pre-oxygenated with 100% oxygen for 3 minutes. Patient was induced with 120 mg of propofol (2 mg/kg). Following loss of consciousness and relaxation of jaw, Igel (supraglottic airway) size 4 was inserted as per manufacturer’s instructions. After insertion of Igel pressure-controlled ventilation started

with inspiratory pressure of 12 and Peep of 5 cm of H₂O since patient had already develop apnoea. Oxygen flow was kept at 6 L, and Sevoflurane dial was kept at 8%. Within 4 - 5 minutes end tidal value reached 4% (2 MAC for sevoflurane). At this point Incarceration was corrected immediately. It was confirmed by USG and sevoflurane was switched off immediately and patient was allowed to wake up. Patent woke up immediately within 10 - 15 minutes (Table 1).

Meanwhile per speculum examination and TAS USG was performed simultaneously.

Per speculum examination revealed anteriorly placed cervix gradually shifting to mid position & TAS USG dynamically witnesses correction of incarceration with shift of cervix to in its mid position and returning back the thickness of uterine walls (Figures 4-9). Self-retaining catheter was removed.

Table 1

Inhalation agent (sevoflurane) concentration used for uterine relaxation

Time	Oxygen flow	Dial sevoflurane	End tidal concentration
12.35 pm	10 L pre-oxygenation
12.36 pm	Insertion of Igel and start of ventilation
12.37	6 L	8%	-
12.38	6 L	8%	1.5%
12.39	6 L	8%	2% (1 MAC Value)
12.40	6 L	8%	3%
12.41	6 L	8%	4% (2 MAC Value)
12.42	6 L Incarceration corrected-confirmed	8%	4%
12.43	6L rechecked	0	3%
12.44	6 L	0	2%
12.45	6 L	0	1%
12.46	6L	0	0.3%

Patient was discharged on same day after she could pass urine on catheter removal. Antibiotics were given for 7 days for UTI. Post-operative tocolysis with nifedipine as per standard protocol was given for 72 hrs. She was advised to practise muslim prayer position or repeated knee-elbow position (Simm’s position) for multiple times in a day up to 20 wks. of pregnancy.

4. Follow-Up

Patient had no complaints in follow up visits. UTI was cured. When we are reporting this case, she has 34 wks. ongoing uneventful pregnancy.

5. Discussions

Pregnant women diagnosed with a retroverted uterus in the 1^st trimester of pregnancy, should have repeat pelvic examination and USG in the 2^nd trimester [11] . Usually spontaneous correction occurs by 14 wks. of pregnancy. When patients have urinary problem in second trimester, uterine position should be checked. Once incarceration is diagnosed, immediate correction should be done in the 2^nd trimester. The incidence of incarcerated uterus has been quoted to be around 1 in 3000 to 10,000 cases [1] . In my clinical experience of 26 years with total no of institutional deliveries of about 68,000 in number, this was the 1^st case of incarceration treated.

As it is rare, management depends on the methods reported by various published reports adopted for that wk. for pregnancy.

Most authors report repositioning of the uterus up to 15 wks. beyond which if attempted, more failures & spontaneous abortions are reported [12] .

We report spontaneous correction of incarceration following general anaesthesia in 15^th wk. of pregnancy without manual assistance which was dynamically recorded on ultrasound. Protocol for anaesthesia is mentioned with sevoflurane concentration which completely relaxes the uterus and results in spontaneous correction of incarceration. Withdrawal of anaesthesia leads to return of polarity of uterus to normal. Simultaneous per speculum & prevaginal examination witnessed shift of cervix from anterior to mid position & fullness of fornix to disappear. This is the second such case reported in the literature. In this patient, incarceration could be due to persistent retroversion. Patient had deep sacral curve & prominent sacral promontory which was felt on per vaginal examination under anaesthesia. This may have predisposed to incarceration. Pelvic findings were not documented by MRI in this patient [13] . The first such case of using general anaesthesia only to correct uterine incarceration was reported in 2015 Dec. [14] . Use of general anaesthesia & USG guided manual reduction has been reported at 20 wks. of pregnancy [15] . GA causes relaxation of uterine & skeletal muscles of pelvis which may lead to spontaneous correction of uterine axis.

We believe only giving general anaesthesia may be tried to correct incarceration diagnosed up to 20 wks. This should be done if manual attempt to correct incarceration without using anaesthesia fails.

In cases of incarceration diagnosed at 17 - 18 wks. of pregnancy, other method of treatment by a colonoscopy-assisted manipulation of uterus without anaesthesia with the woman lying in a left lateral decubitus position, followed by a left lateral tilted supine position, is described. Simultaneously, with the insertion of the flexible sigmoidoscope, an extra anterior pressure was generated by insertion of two fingers in the vagina. Ensure bladder and bowel are empty [16] [17] .

Rarely an incarcerated gravid uterus resolves spontaneously even in the 3^rd trimester of pregnancy. Severe abdominal pain might be caused by spontaneous reduction [18] .

Learning Points

GA with inhalation anaesthetics only can be adequate in treating incarcerated uterus diagnosed from 14 - 17 wks. of pregnancy.

Conflict of Interests

There was no conflict of interest & due consent of the patient was taken to report her clinical case.

References

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