Early pregnancy loss, including ectopic pregnancy and recurrent miscarriage

Author(s):  
Roy Farquharson ◽  
Feroza Dawood
CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S91-S91
Author(s):  
R. Glicksman ◽  
D. Little ◽  
C. Thompson ◽  
S. McLeod ◽  
C. Varner

Introduction: Affecting roughly 1 in 5 pregnancies, early pregnancy loss is a common experience for reproductive-aged women. In Canada, most women do not establish care with an obstetrical provider until the second trimester of pregnancy. Consequently, pregnant patients experiencing symptoms of early pregnancy loss frequently access care in the emergency department (ED). The objective of this study was to describe the resource utilization and outcomes of women presenting to two Ontario EDs for early pregnancy loss or threatened early pregnancy loss. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of pregnant (≤20 weeks), adult (≥18 years) women in two EDs (one community hospital with 110,000 annual ED visits; one academic hospital with 65,000 annual ED visits) between January 2010 and December 2017. Patients were identified by diagnostic codes indicating early pregnancy loss or threatened early pregnancy loss. Results: A total of 16,091 patients were included, with a mean (SD) age of 32.8 (5.6) years. Patients had a total of 22,410 ED visits for early pregnancy complications, accounting for 1.6% of the EDs’ combined visits during the study period. Threatened abortion (n = 11,265, 50.3%) was the most common ED diagnosis, followed by spontaneous abortion (n = 5,652, 25.2%), ectopic pregnancy (n = 3,242, 14.5%), missed abortion (n = 1,541, 6.9%), and other diagnoses (n = 710, 3.2%). 8,000 (44.8%) patients had a radiologist-interpreted ultrasound performed during the initial ED visit. Median (IQR) ED length of stay was 3.4 (2.3 to 5.1) hours. There were 4,561 (25.6%) return ED visits within 30 days, of which 2,317 (50.8%) occurred less than 24 hours of index visit, and 481 (10.6%) were for scheduled, next day ultrasound. The total number of hospital admissions was 1,793 (8.0%), and the majority were for ectopic pregnancy (n = 1,052, 58.7%). Of admitted patients, 1,320 (73.6%) underwent surgical interventions related to early pregnancy. There were 474 (10.4%) patients admitted to hospital during return ED visits. Conclusion: Pregnant patients experiencing symptoms of early pregnancy loss in the ED frequently had radiologist-interpreted US and low rates of hospital admission, yet had high rates of return ED visits. This study highlights the heavy reliance on Ontario EDs to care for patients experiencing complications of early pregnancy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 76 (04) ◽  
pp. 377-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hamza ◽  
G. Meyberg-Solomayer ◽  
I. Juhasz-Böss ◽  
R. Joukhadar ◽  
Z. Takacs ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 7_2020 ◽  
pp. 79-86
Author(s):  
Batrak N.V. Batrak ◽  
Malyshkina A.I. Malyshkina ◽  
Sotnikova N.Yu. Sotnikova ◽  
Kroshkina N.V. Kroshkina ◽  
Peretyatko L.P. Peretyatko ◽  
...  

CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S108-S108
Author(s):  
J. Cirone ◽  
C. Thompson ◽  
S. McLeod ◽  
C. Varner

Introduction: The majority of first trimester pregnancy care in Canada is provided by family physicians and emergency departments (EDs). Early pregnancy loss occurs in approximately 30% of pregnancies, and the majority take place in first trimester when many patients do not yet have an obstetrical care provider. In Ontario, nearly 70% of patients are rostered to a family physician, many of whom practice in Family Health Teams (FHTs). The objective of this study was to determine how Ontario family physicians manage early pregnancy complications and explore the services available for patients experiencing early pregnancy loss or threatened early pregnancy loss. Methods: Family physician leads from 104 Ontario FHTs were contacted by email and invited to complete a 19-item, online questionnaire using modified Dillman methodology. The survey was developed by investigators based on a review of relevant literature and consultation with clinical experts. Prior to distribution, the questionnaire was peer reviewed and tested for face and construct validity, as well as ease of comprehension. Results: Respondents from 50 FHTs across Ontario completed the survey (response rate 48.1%). Of the respondents, 45 (90.0%) reported access to an ED in their community, 45 (90.0%) had access to an obstetrician/gynecologist, 33 (66.0%) had access to an early pregnancy clinic, and 18 (36.0%) reported comprehensive obstetrical care from first trimester to delivery within their FHT. The following services were only accessible through the ED: administration of RhoGAM (n = 28; 56.0%); surgical management of spontaneous or missed abortion (n = 22; 44.0%); same day serum quantitative beta human chorionic gonadotropin (n = 21; 42.0%); same day radiologist-interpreted ultrasound assessment (n = 15; 30.0%); and medical management of spontaneous or missed abortion (n = 12; 24.0%). Forty (80.0%) respondents stated physicians in their practice would provide urgent follow-up care for patients with spontaneous abortion, 35 (70.0%) would provide care for threatened abortion, and 26 (52.0%) would provide urgent care for missed abortion. For patients with a stable ectopic pregnancy, 37 (74.0%) respondents would refer to the ED. Conclusion: This study suggests FHTs in Ontario provide comprehensive care to patients with uncomplicated early pregnancy loss such as spontaneous abortion, yet rely on the ED for management of complicated early pregnancy loss, when medical or surgical management is indicated or for ectopic pregnancy.


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