Types of early pregnancy complications, and describe their Ultrasound appearances
Ultrasound Appearance of Six Types of Early Pregnancy Complications
| TYPE OF ABORTION | DEFINITION | ULTRASOUND FINDINGS |
|---|---|---|
| Threatened abortion | Vaginal bleeding with a closed cervical os | Ranges from live embryo to a small empty gestational sac to a normal empty uterus |
| Abortion in progress | Intrauterine gestation in the process of being expelled | Irregular gestational sac in the lower uterus/cervix ± a live embryo |
| Incomplete abortion | Incomplete passage of gestational tissues | Thickened endometrium ± fluid and debris, and areas of increased endometrial vascularity |
| Complete abortion | Expulsion of all gestational tissues | Normal empty uterus which may be mildly vascular |
| Blighted ovum | Failed or abnormal embryonic development | Empty gestational sac or sac with abnormal yolk sac and no embryo; any abnormal gestational sac development |
| Embryonic demise | Lack of embryonic growth and absent expected cardiac activity | Embryo without cardiac activity |
