eMedicine Specialties > Emergency Medicine > Obstetrics & Gynecology
Abortion, Missed: Treatment & Medication
Updated: Jun 15, 2006
- Overview
- Differential Diagnoses & Workup
- Treatment & Medication
- Follow-up
- Multimedia
Treatment
Emergency Department Care
Treatment may vary depending upon gestational age as follows:
- First trimester
- Most patients abort spontaneously.
- Coagulation defects secondary to a dead fetus are rare.
- Expectant management or suction curettage may be performed.
- Second trimester
- The uterus is emptied by dilatation and evacuation.
- Alternatively, the uterus is emptied by induction of labor.
Consultations
- Consult an obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN), especially for difficult diagnoses and follow-up care.
- Ultrasonographic findings may aid in determining the need for consultation (see Images 2-3).
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Treatment & Medication: Abortion, Missed |
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References
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Nyberg DA, Cyr DR, Mack LA, et al. Sonographic spectrum of placental abruption. AJR Am J Roentgenol. Jan 1987;148(1):161-4. [Medline].
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Sairam S, Khare M, Michailidis G. The role of ultrasound in the expectant management of early pregnancy loss. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. Jun 2001;17(6):506-9. [Medline].
Sauer MV. Pregnancy wastage and reproductive aging: the oocyte donation model. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. Jun 1996;8(3):226-9. [Medline].
Scott JR. Early pregnancy loss. In: Danforth's Obstetrics and Gynecology. 7th ed. Lippincott-Raven Publishers;1994:175-185.
Scroggins KM, Smucker WD, Krishen AE. Spontaneous pregnancy loss: evaluation, management, and follow-up counseling. Prim Care. Mar 2000;27(1):153-67. [Medline].
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Further Reading
Keywords
miscarriage, blighted ovum, anembryonic pregnancy, fetal demise, spontaneous abortion, missed abortion, threatened abortion, complete abortion, incomplete abortion, inevitable abortion, pregnancy loss, utero death of the embryo, utero death of the fetus, chromosomal anomalies, septate uterus, luteal phase insufficiency, hypothyroidism, hypoprolactinemia, polycystic ovarian syndrome, anembryonic pregnancy, subchorionic hematoma, subchorionic hemorrhage, subchorionic bleeding, endovaginal ultrasound, transabdominal ultrasound
Treatment & Medication: Abortion, Missed