Current surgical treatment of uterine isthmocele: an update of existing literature

Abstract

The prevalence of uterine isthmocele, also known as a uterine niche, has risen in parallel with increasing cesarean section (CS) rates, affecting approximately 60% of women depending on their history of cesarean deliveries. This condition, now categorized as cesarean scar disorder (CSD) by the “Delphi consensus,” is characterized by one primary or two secondary symptoms. Diagnosis can be made through transvaginal ultrasound, sonohysterography, hysteroscopy, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Management of isthmocele may involve pharmacological or surgical interventions. This review aims to provide a thorough analysis of the surgical management options, focusing on postoperative symptom relief, intraoperative and postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and impact on secondary infertility. PubMed was comprehensively searched for observational studies from inception to 07.08.2024. Surgical treatments include hysteroscopic resection, laparoscopic procedures, and vaginal approaches, all of which offer comparable symptom relief. However, the vaginal approach is associated with a longer hospital stay. The robotic-assisted approach shows promising results but lacks extensive data. Among surgical options, hysteroscopic treatment has the fewest complications but is generally avoided when residual myometrial thickness (RMT) is less than 3 mm. While many CSDs remain asymptomatic, and some women with uterine isthmocele may not wish to conceive, symptomatic patients or those desiring to conceive may benefit from surgical intervention. The choice of procedure should be based on individual patient characteristics, particularly RMT, to define the most appropriate surgical approach.