Expectant management of first‐trimester miscarriage in clinical practice

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate treatment efficacy and patient compliance in women with an early miscarriage managed expectantly in routine clinical practice. Methods. During 1995-98, 263 consecutive women who sought medical attention for an ongoing or incomplete miscarriage (gestational length <99 days), and who were circulatory stable and had a gestational residue measuring 15-50 mm (anterio-posterior, A-P diameter) on ultrasound examination were invited to participate in this study. Hemoglobin (Hb), C-reactive protein (CRP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), progesterone and Rh-factor were analyzed and a questionnaire regarding the pregnancy, duration of genital bleeding and number of days of absenteeism was completed on admission and after 1 and 4 weeks. Results. Expectant management was considered to be complete (vaginal ultrasound, gestational residue <15 mm after 1 week) in 83%. The patients who were managed successfully by expectant management had a smaller gestational residue...