Expectant management of first-trimester miscarriage.
J Obstet Gynaecol. 2009 Nov;29(8):681-5. PMID: 19821656
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford, UK. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Miscarriage is the most common complication of pregnancy, which creates a significant workload for health-care professionals. For decades, surgical evacuation of the uterus has remained the conventional treatment of first-trimester miscarriage. Recently, non surgical treatments have been introduced with increasing popularity. This review explores the evidence in support of expectant management of first-trimester miscarriage. It is safe, effective and well-tolerated by women. It enhances women's choice and control. It generates significant cost savings compared with the traditional surgical management. Accurate diagnosis, counselling, 24/7 telephone advice and follow-up are among the important aspects of expectant management. More studies are needed to develop methods for identifying miscarriages suitable for expectant management.