Foetal Death (Recurrent Miscarriage, Stillbirth) Flashcards
What is abortion?
Expulsion of the foetus prior to 20 weeks gestation
What is the incidence of spontaneous abortion?
15-25% (>80% in the first 12 weeks)
What causes many early spontaneous abortions?
50% due to chromosomal abnormalities, most of which are trisomy
What are the causes of second trimester abortions?
Not usually chromosomal:
- maternal systemic disease
- abnormal placentation or other anatomic considerations
Why is the distinction between early and second trimester abortions clinically significant?
Second trimester conditions can often be treated and therefore recurrent abortion can be prevented
What are the infectious aetiologies of spontaneous abortion?
Uncommon cause of early spontaneous abortion.
- Chlamydia trachomatis
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Mycoplasma hominis
- Ureaplasma urealyticum
- Syphilis
- HIV(1)
- GBS vaginal colonisation
What are the endocrine aetiologies of spontaneous abortion?
- Thyroid autoantibodies (even in absence of clinical hypothyroidism)
- TIDM (degree of metabolic control important)
What are the environmental aetiologies of spontaneous abortion?
- Smoking (linear with #/day)
- Alcohol (abortion + foetal abnormalities)
- Radiation (such as RT therapeutic dose)
What are the immunologic aetiologies of spontaneous abortion?
Genetic disorders of blood coagulation (increase risk of arterial and venous thrombosis); a/w recurrent miscarriage
- Factor V Leiden mutations
- Prothrombin G20210A
- Antithrombin 3
- Proteins C and S
- Hyperhomocysteinemia
What are the uterine factor aetiologies of spontaneous abortion?
- Large and multiple uterine leiomyomas (location usually more important than size)
- Intrauterine synechiae (Asherman syndrome)
What is the type of uterine leiomyoma more frequently implicated in miscarriage?
Submucous leiomyomata (?due to role on implantation)
What is Asherman syndrome?
Intrauterine synechiae - condition caused after curettage has denuded endometrium past layer of baseless so webs of scar tissue develop across the uterine cavity (the synechiae)
What is a threatened abortion?
Pregnancy complicated by vaginal bleeding prior to 20th week (incidence 25%)
How many women with threatened abortion progress to spontaneous abortion?
~50%
What are the risks when a threatened abortion is carried to viability?
-Low birth weight
-Preterm birth
No higher incidence of congenital malformations in these newborns
What is inevitable miscarriage?
Gross rupture of membranes in presence of cervical dilation (open os).
-uterine contractions usually commence promptly –> expulsion of products of conception
What is the risk of conservatively managing patients with inevitable abortion?
Significantly increases risk of maternal infection
What is an incomplete miscarriage?
- Pain and bleeding
- Internal cervical os opens and allows passage of blood. -Products of conception may extrude through dilated os.
What is a complete abortion?
Documented pregnancy that spontaneously passes all products of conception. Before 10 weeks foetus and placenta are expelled in toto.
-Pain, bleeding and passage of all products of conception; then reduction in bleeding, closure of cervix, empty uterus on scan
What is a missed miscarriage?
Retention of failed intrauterine pregnancy for an extended period (usually defined as more than 2 menstrual cycles). Usually no pain or bleeding.
What is recurrent pregnancy loss
More than three consecutive pregnancy losses
What is recommended when recurrent early abortion occurs?
karyotyping for both parents (early pregnancy loss usually genetic; 3% chance once parent is a symptomless carrier of a genetically balanced chromosomal translocation)
What is Asherman syndrome associated with clinically?
- amenorrhoea or irregular periods
- infertility
- recurrent pregnancy loss
Diagnosis of Asherman syndrome?
Hysterogram showing webbed pattern; or hysteroscopy
How is Asherman syndrome treated?
- Lysis of synechiae
- Post op oestrogen to encourage endometrial proliferation to re establish normal endometrial layer
What are anti phospholipid antibodies?
Family of autoantibodies that bind negatively charged phospholipids (e.g. Lupus anticoagulant, anti cardiolipin)
Treatment anti phospholipid antibodies in recurrent preganancy wastage?
- Low dose aspirin
- Unfractionated heparin
Treatment threatened abortion?
No intervention (even if bleeding + cramps) -if no evidence of abnormality of US -Pregnancy intact on US then reassure and allowed to continue normal activities
Treatment incomplete abortion?
Expectant, medical and surgical options.
- surgical invasive but decisive
- Expectant and medical a/w unpredictable bleeding, may progress to surgery