Non-Viable Pregnancies Flashcards
What is defined as a miscarriage?
The spontaneous expulsion of the products of conception before 24 weeks gestation
What is the epidemiology surrounding miscarriage?
It occurs in 15-20% of clinical pregnancies.
75% of all miscarriages occur in the first 12 weeks
What are the possible causes for a miscarriage?
Maternal:
General:
- Age
- Obesity
- Acute febrile illness
- Septicaemia
- Severe hypertension
- Renal disease
- Diabetes
- Hypothyroidism
- Trauma
- Surgical operation
Local:
- Uterine fibroids
- Congenital uterine malformations
- Incompetent internal os
- Hormone deficiency
Foetal:
- Congenital and genetic malformations (miscarriage by 8 weeks)
- Faulty implantation
What are the different types of miscarriage?
- Threatened
- Inevitable
- Missed
- Incomplete
- Complete
What is a threatened miscarriage? What is the clinical presentation of it? How is it managed?
What other types of miscarriage are there?
A threatened miscarriage is bleeding from the genital tract before 24 weeks.
Pain: usually absent Bleeding: scanty, brown or bright red Breasts: may still be active Uterine size: normal for gestational age Cervical os: closed USS: foetal heart sounds present
A threatened miscarriage is managed with rest and limited exertion. Women are advised to avoid intercourse for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Other types of miscarriage:
- Inevitable
- Missed
- Incomplete
- Complete
What is a inevitable miscarriage? What is the clinical presentation of it? How is it managed?
What other types of miscarriage are there?
An inevitable miscarriage refers to the presence of an open internal os, with bleeding. Usually, products are not completely expelled.
A threatened miscarriage can turn into an inevitable miscarriage if dilatation occurs.
Pain: severe pelvic cramping Bleeding: heavy with clots and tissue Breasts: - Uterine size: as expected for dates Cervical os: open USS: foetal heart sounds present/absent
An inevitable miscarriage is managed depending on the gestations:
<12 weeks: uterus evacuated under GA
>12 weeks: spontaneous evacuation is waited for. Potentially, misoprostol given (5 units or 0.5mg)
Other types of miscarriage:
- Threatened
- Missed
- Incomplete
- Complete
What is a missed miscarriage? What is the clinical presentation of it? How is it managed?
What other types of miscarriage are there?
Here, the embryo dies in early development and is absorbed. All that is left is a sac. The sac MUST be over 25mm for this diagnosis.
Pain: none Bleeding: none or minimal Breasts: soft Uterine size: - small for dates Cervical os: closed USS: no foetal heart sound or products of conception
A missed miscarriage is managed depending on the gestational size of the sac:
<8 weeks: expectant management with regular follow-up until miscarriage is complete
> 8 weeks:
- Surgical evacuation
- Medical treatment with oral prostaglandins every 3 hours (successful in 50% of cases)
Other types of miscarriage:
- Threatened
- Inevitable
- Incomplete
- Complete
What is an incomplete miscarriage? What is the clinical presentation of it? How is it managed?
What other types of miscarriage are there?
This occurs when some of the retained products of conception are expelled, and some is not.
Pain: yes/no
Bleeding: heavy with clots
Breasts: -
Uterine size: small or as expected for age
Cervical os: open
USS: no foetal heart sound, some retained products of conception
An incomplete miscarriage is managed with evacuation of the uterus contents.
Other types of miscarriage:
- Threatened
- Inevitable
- Missed
- Complete
What is a complete miscarriage? What is the clinical presentation of it? How is it managed?
What other types of miscarriage are there?
A complete miscarriage is when the entire contents of the uterus are expelled. This usually occurs before 8 weeks gestation. This requires a PREVIOUSLY SEEN pregnancy on ultrasound.
Pain: no Bleeding: minimal Breasts: - Uterine size: small or as expected Cervical os: open/closed USS: no foetal heart sound and uterus is empty
A complete miscarriage requires no management except that an ectopic pregnancy is excluded.
Other types of miscarriage:
- Threatened
- Inevitable
- Missed
- Incomplete
What investigations should be performed in a suspected case of miscarriage?
- Transvaginal Ultrasound
- Beta hCG (should double every 48 hours in a viable pregnancy)
- Progesterone
- Bloods: FBC and rhesus
- Triple swabs (if pyrexial)
What is the definition of recurrent miscarriage?
Three or more consecutive miscarriages
What is the epidemiology surrounding recurrent miscarriage?
Approximately 1% of all women are affected.
What are the causes for recurrent miscarriage?
50% of all cases have no known causes
Of those with a known cause:
- Polycystic ovaries (50%)
- Antiphospholipid syndrome (40%)
- Cervical incompetence (5%) [trauma, previous difficult labour, repeated dilatation, operations]
- Congenital uterine abnormalities (1%)
- Genetic causes (3%)
- Bacterial vaginosis
What are the risk factors associated with recurrent miscarriage?
- Advanced maternal age
- Previous miscarriage
What investigations should be performed in a case of recurrent miscarriages?
- Maternal pelvic USS
- Maternal anti-phospholipid antibody screen (measure APS lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies)
- Bacterial vaginosis screen
- Cytogenic analysis of foetal tissue
- Parental karyotype
