Fibroids are the most common benign tumors of the genital organs of women in reproductive age. Achieving reproductive function later in life, with more frequent use of assisted reproductive technologies, leads to an increased number of pregnancies complicated with fibroids. Their size may change during pregnancy, but the changes are mostly individual. Most fibroids stop growing or decline during the puerperium. The effect of fibroids on pregnancy depends on their number, size and location. The mechanisms bringing about perinatal complications are not fully understood. Fibroids during pregnancy can cause many perinatal complications, such as bleeding in pregnancy, miscarriage, pain due to red degeneration, malpresentation, preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, placental abruption and obstruction of delivery and are associated with higher incidence of cesarean section, operative vaginal delivery, uterine atony and postpartum hemorrhage. Postpartum hysterectomy in these women is also more likely than in general population. Postpartum infections are more common in patients with fibroids, and myomas may also cause retained placenta. The most common cause of neonatal morbidity is prematurity, due to pregnancy ending in an earlier gestational age. Monitoring of pregnancies complicated with fibroids is essentially indistinguishable from monitoring normal pregnancies. Therapy includes only bed rest and observation, symptomatic therapy in case of pain and intensive fetal surveillance, and surgery in the acute situations.
The study aim was to evaluate management of myomas during cesarean section, the pro and cons and the outcomes of cesarean myomectomy. Moreover, we tried to investigate the long-term outcomes of cesarean myomectomy. The authors conducted a literature review using scientific databases, focusing on the benefits and outcomes of cesarean myomectomy and the recent trends regarding this topic, and identified relevant articles, related references and other papers citing them. Despite the demonstrated advantages of cesarean myomectomy, postponed myomectomy after cesarean section was recommended in some instances. Apart from recent reports on the safety and feasibility of cesarean myomectomy, the current literature also describes serious complications of cesarean myomectomy, including even maternal death. This poses a question about the reported rate of complications: whether it is underestimated in common practice. Although some studies strongly suggest the safety of cesarean myomectomy, data on the long-term outcomes of cesarean myomectomy in women are lacking. The risk-benefit ratio of cesarean myomectomy should be re-evaluated in the new century, given the increasing patient age, incidence of myoma in pregnancy, and the wide use of assisted reproductive techniques.
With increasing reports in favor of CM, the risk-benefit ratio should be still evaluated with randomized controlled trials, in order to achieve more data on CM.
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