Expectant management versus elective curettage for the treatment of spontaneous abortion.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the amount of intrauterine tissue was prognostic of the risk of complications associated with the management of nonviable pregnancies diagnosed in the first trimester before cervical dilatation (termed here impending abortion) with either expectant observation or elective curettage.


METHODS
Historic cohort study.


METHODS
University Infertility Service.


METHODS
All women with nonviable pregnancies followed by the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology during a 5-year period. The patients were divided into those with significant intrauterine tissue (gestational sac > 10 mm) and those with minimal intrauterine tissue.


METHODS
Women either underwent elective curettage or were followed expectantly.


METHODS
Complication rates.


RESULTS
In 89 women with minimal tissue, no complications occurred regardless of treatment mode. In 63 women with significant intrauterine tissue, expectant management resulted in more complications (9/24) than elective curettage (1/39). In the expectant group, complications included missed abortion, septic abortion, and incomplete abortion requiring emergency curettage, with one patient requiring a transfusion. In the curettage group one uterine perforation occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
In women with impending abortions and minimal intrauterine tissue, expectant treatment is safe after ectopic pregnancy has been excluded. In patients with significant intrauterine tissue, the risk of complications may be decreased by elective uterine curettage compared with expectant management.
Hurd
W W
WW
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
Whitfield
R R
RR
Randolph
J F
JF
Kercher
M L
ML
D000033:Abortion, Threatened / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003475:Curettage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011379:Prognosis; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal