Introduction To Abortion Flashcards
(35 cards)
What is Abortion?
Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by either expulsion or extraction before 28 weeks of gestation and when fetal weight < 1000g
Abortion can either be?
Spontaneous (Miscarriage which is 10%-15%) OR Artificial (Induced)
When do early abortions occur?
<12 weeks
When does late abortion occur?
> 12 weeks
Aetiology of Abortion:
- Hereditary
- Uterine abnormalities
- Infections
- Endocrine disorders
- Immunological factors
The commonest cause of spontaneous abortions is
Chromosomal abnormality
The two categories of chromosomal abnormalities that may cause spontaneous abortions are:
- Numerical (autosomal trisomies polyploidy) e.g Trisomy 16, Monosomy X (Turner’s syndrome)
- Structural : Parental chromosomal abnormalities e.g balanced translocation.
Chromosomal abnormalities cause how many percent of early abortions?
50-60%
Uterine abnormalities that can cause abortion are either?
Congenital Uterine deformities and Acquired
Examples of congenital Uterine deformities that can cause abortions are?
Hypoplastic Uterus
Double uterus
Longitudinal Uterine Septum
Examples of acquired uterine abnormalities that can lead to abortion?
- Cervical incompetence
- Pelvic tumors (e.g uterine myoma and ovarian tumor)
What infections can lead to abortions?
- Bacteria, toxin and viruses getting into fetal blood.
- Systemic infections like malaria and pyelonephritis
- Local infections like UTI and Bacterial vaginosis
What endocrine disorders can cause abortions?
Hypo/Hyperthyroidism
Hypofunction of the corpus luteum (luteal phase dysfunction)
What immunological factors can cause abortions?
- APS
- Blood type incompatibility between mother and fetus - Rh & ABO
Types of abortions
Threatened abortion
Inevitable abortion
Complete abortion
Incomplete abortion
Missed abortion
What is threatened abortion?
Threatened abortion is when pregnancy is complicated by vaginal bleeding before the 28th week.
If pain is not a prominent feature of threatened abortion, what is?
A lower abdominal dull ache that accompanies the vaginal bleeding
Vaginal examination at this stage of threatened abortion usually reveals?
Closed cervix
25-50% of threatened abortion result into?
Pregnancy loss
Inevitable abortion describes what?
When a clinical pregnancy is complicated by vaginal bleeding and cramp-like lower abdominal pain.
Vaginal examination in inevitable abortion shows?
The cervix is frequently partially dilated (attesting to the inevitability of the process)
What is incomplete abortion?
Abortion that is complicated & characterized by vaginal bleeding, lower abdominal pain, cervical dilatation and passage of products of conception which women often describe as pieces of skin or liver.
Complete abortion occurs after?
The passage of all products of conception
What happens to uterine contractions, bleeding, cervix and uterus after complete abortion?
Uterine contractions - abate
Bleeding - abates
Cervix - becomes closed
Uterus - becomes smaller that a period of amenorrhea would suggest.
