Abortion

Nota:

• when a pregnancy is terminated before 20 weeks gestation (the point of fetal viability) or a fetal weight less than 500 g.

1. Risk factors

   Nota:

   • Chromosomal abnormalities (account for 50%). Maternal illness, such as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Advancing maternal age. Chronic maternal infections. Maternal malnutrition. Trauma or injury. Anomalies in the fetus or placenta. Substance abuse.
2. Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures
   1. Hemoglobin and hematocrit

      Nota:

      • if considerable blood loss
   2. Clotting factors

      Nota:

      • monitored for disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) – a complication with retained products of conception
   3. WBC
   4. hCG
   5. UTZ

      Nota:

      • used to determine the presence of a viable or dead fetus, or partial or complete products of conception within the uterine cavity.
   6. cervix

      Nota:

      • Examination of the cervix to observe if opened or closed
   7. Dilation and curettage (D&C)

      Nota:

      • to dilate and scrape the uterine walls to remove uterine contents for inevitable and incomplete abortions
   8. Dilation and evacuation (D&E)

      Nota:

      • dilate and evacuate uterine contents after 16 weeks gestation
   9. Prostaglandin