Pregnancy of uncertain viability

Case contributed by RMH Core Conditions
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Admitted post trauma. 8/40 pregnant. PV spotting.

Patient Data

Age: 53
Gender: Female
ultrasound

Intrauterine gestational sac demonstrated, measuring 22 mm in maximal dimension. The sac has a flattened shape. This does not demonstrate a fetal pole on either transabdominal or transvaginal scanning. No pelvic free fluid.

Case Discussion

Current guidelines state that absence of a fetal pole with a mean sac diameter (MSD) of >25 mm is diagnostic of anembryonic pregnancy, but a MSD of 16-24 is certainly suspicious, and given the patient's stated LMP, this is even more suspicious. This is at this stage, a pregnancy of uncertain viability (PUV), with poor prognostic factors. It requires followup with serial bHCG and a repeat ultrasound.

Follow-up ultrasound demonstrated disappearance of the gestational sac with a decreased beta hCG, confirming a failed early pregnancy.

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