title: Spontaneous abortion.
abstract: As a result of improved investigation and treatment techniques, understanding of all aspects of spontaneous abortion has improved. The term "threatened abortion" is often a misnomer, for the fate of the pregnancy is decided when bleeding occurs. A dilated cervix indicates that abortion is inevitable. If the cervix is not dilated, pelvic ultrasonography will usually show the following: a live fetus, an anembryonic pregnancy, incomplete abortion or missed abortion. If fetal heart movement is seen, no further treatment is needed and the prognosis is excellent (98% fetal survival). In other cases, the uterus must be evacuated, with a Karman catheter if the uterus is small, with a suction curette if the uterus is large. Forceful dilation of the cervix is avoided through the use of Laminaria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, PQ.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Boyd
mesh_terms: D000031:Abortion, Septic / Q000209:etiology; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000652:urine; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000652:urine; D011379:Prognosis; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin