Early Pregnancy Loss in Emergency Medicine Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Slava V Gaufberg, MD; Chief Editor: Pamela L Dyne, MD   more...
 
Updated: Sep 7, 2011
 
 

Differential Diagnoses

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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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This image shows an endovaginal longitudinal view of a low-lying gestational sac (GS) within the uterus (Ut), representing an incomplete miscarriage.
This endovaginal longitudinal view demonstrates fluid within the uterus (Ut). Echogenic debris also is present within the endometrial cavity. This image shows a large pseudogestational sac of an ectopic pregnancy.
This endovaginal ultrasonographic image demonstrates a subchorionic hemorrhage (SH) less than half the gestational sac size.
This flowchart details a diagnostic algorithm based on sonographic findings in early pregnancy, using high-frequency endovaginal sonography (HFEVS) of more than 5 megahertz (MHz). The flowchart incorporates clinical presentation (spotting vs clinical bleeding) with sonographic findings to aid in making clinical decisions. The algorithm continues in Media file 5.
This flowchart outlines a diagnostic algorithm based on the initial endovaginal sonographic finding of an intrauterine embryo. The chart incorporates fetal cardiac activity, crown-rump length (CRL), presence of subchorionic hemorrhage (SCH), and uterine or adnexal masses with clinical presentation (spotting vs bleeding) to aid in making clinical decisions.
This endovaginal ultrasonogram reveals an irregular gestational sac with an amorphic fetal pole. No fetal cardiac activity was noted. This image represents a missed miscarriage or fetal demise.
 
 
 
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