The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2007;9:2:102-108
doi: 10.1576/toag.9.2.102.27311
Copyright © 2007 by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Modern management of miscarriage
Haritha Sagili, MD MRCOG DFFP, Senior House Officer Obstetrics and Gynaecology1 and
Mike Divers, FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist2
1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Nobles Hospital Isle of Man, IM4 4RJ, UK Email: harithas{at}hotmail.com (corresponding author)
2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Nobles Hospital Isle of Man, IM4 4RJ, UK
Key content:
- Miscarriage has traditionally been treated by surgical evacuation, on the assumption that any retained tissue increases the risk of infection and haemorrhage.
- Over the last decade, effective non-surgical alternatives have been advocated to minimise unnecessary surgical intervention while maintaining low rates of morbidity and mortality.
- Improved access to early pregnancy assessment units and greater awareness among women has led to increasing demand for more conservative management of miscarriage.
Learning objectives:
- To learn about the use of appropriate miscarriage terminology.
- To learn about the advantages and disadvantages of expectant, medical and surgical management.
- To understand that women's choice is paramount in planning treatment.
Ethical issues:
- Guidance on the sensitive disposal of fetal remains is essential.
Please cite this article as: Sagili H, Divers M. Modern management of miscarriage. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2007;9:102108.
Keywords early pregnancy assessment units / expectant management / medical management / miscarriage / surgical evacuation
Copyright © 2007 by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.