Abortion Complications Workup

  • Author: Slava V Gaufberg, MD; Chief Editor: Pamela L Dyne, MD   more...
 
Updated: Feb 5, 2010
 

Laboratory Studies

  • Complete blood count and platelets: Repeat H&Hs may be helpful in assessing the degree of ongoing hemorrhage.
  • Complete metabolic panel
  • Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin level: A quantitative level may provide useful information and a basis for future comparison.
  • Prothrombin time/activated partial thromboplastin time
  • Urinalysis
  • Blood type and screen or type and cross with antibody screen (with severe hemorrhage)
  • If DIC is suspected, fibrinogen, fibrin split products, and D-dimer should be obtained.
  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate may be helpful in assessing developing infection.
  • Endocervical cultures (eg, aerobic, anaerobic, gonorrheal, chlamydial) and Gram stain may be indicated.
  • Blood cultures should be obtained if the patient is febrile and systemic infection is suspected.
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Imaging Studies

  • To exclude free air as a result of bowel perforation, obtain either an upright chest radiograph or an upright abdominal radiograph. Both supine and upright radiographs of the abdomen assist in the detection of free air or foreign bodies.
  • Perform ultrasonography with a vaginal probe to rule out ectopic pregnancy, retained products of conception in the uterus, adnexal masses, free fluid in the cul-de-sac, and hematometra.
  • Abdominal and pelvic CT may be useful in evaluating the acutely tender abdomen and pelvis if pelvic ultrasonography is not diagnostic.
  • Obtain arteriography if injury to the large blood vessels is suspected.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Slava V Gaufberg, MD  Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Director of Transitional Residency Training Program, Cambridge Health Alliance

Slava V Gaufberg, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Roy Alson, MD, PhD, FACEP, FAAEM  Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine; Medical Director, Forsyth County EMS; Deputy Medical Advisor, North Carolina Office of EMS; Associate Medical Director, North Carolina Baptist AirCare

Roy Alson, MD, PhD, FACEP, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: Air Medical Physician Association, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, National Association of EMS Physicians, North Carolina Medical Society, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Mark Zwanger, MD, MBA  Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University

Mark Zwanger, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Pamela L Dyne, MD  Professor of Clinical Medicine/Emergency Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine; Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center

Pamela L Dyne, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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