Risk of hemorrhage during surgical evacuation for second-trimester intrauterine fetal demise

Clinic Versus the Operating Room: Determining the Optimal Setting for Dilation and Curettage for Management of First-Trimester Pregnancy Failure

Introduction There is no clear guidance for the optimal setting for dilation and curettage (D&C) for the management of first-trimester pregnancy failure. Identifying patients at risk of clinically significant blood loss at the time of D&C may inform a provider's decision regarding the setting for the procedure. We aimed to identify risk factors predictive for blood loss of 200mL or greater at the time of D&C. Methods  This is a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with first-trimester pregnancy failure at gestational age less than 11 weeks who underwent surgical management with D&C at a single safety net academic institution between 4/2016 and 4/2021. Patient characteristics and procedural outcomes were abstracted. Women with less than 200mL versus greater than or equal to 200mL blood loss were compared using descriptive statistics, chi-square for categorical variables, and Satterthwaite t-tests for continuous variables. Results A total of 350 patients were identified; 233 met inclusion criteria, and 228 had non-missing outcome data. Mean gestational age was 55 days (SD 9.4). Thirty-one percent (n=70) had estimated blood loss (EBL) ≥200mL. Younger patients (mean 28.7 years vs. 30.9, p=0.038), Latina patients (67.1% vs. 51.9%, p=0.006), patients with higher body mass index (BMI, mean 30.6 vs. 27.3 kg/m2, p=0.006), and patients with pregnancies at greater gestational age (59.5 days vs. 53.6 days, p<0.001) were more likely to have EBL ≥200mL. Additionally, patients with pregnancies dated by ultrasound (34.3% vs. 18.4%, p=0.007), those who underwent D&C in the operating room (81.4% vs. 48.7%, p<0.001), and those who underwent general anesthesia (81.4% vs. 44.3%, p<0.001) were more likely to have EBL ≥200mL. Discussion In this study, patients with EBL ≥200mL at the time of D&C differed significantly from those with EBL<200mL. This information can assist providers in planning the best setting for their patients' procedures.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing second-trimester dilation and evacuation for intrauterine fetal demise vs induced abortion

OBJECTIVES

Patients with intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) are at higher risk of complications when undergoing dilation and evacuation (D&E) compared to patients undergoing abortion for other indications. We aimed to compare baseline characteristics and describe outcomes, including frequencies of complications such as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and hemorrhage, in patients undergoing D&E for IUFD vs induced abortion, with a goal of identifying associated risk factors for complications.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a retrospective matched cohort study of patients undergoing nonemergent D&Es for singleton ≥14-0/7-week IUFD January 1, 2019 to May 31, 2021, matched with two patients undergoing induced second-trimester D&Es by cesarean delivery history, patient age, and gestational age (GA). We collected demographics, history, GA, coagulation studies, quantitative blood loss (QBL), and complications. We calculated descriptive statistics and tested for association using chi-square, Fisher's exact, t, and Wilcoxon's rank sum tests.

RESULTS

Of 1390 procedures, 64 patients with IUFD met inclusion criteria and were matched with 128 patients undergoing induced D&E. Eight (12.5%) patients with IUFD and six (4.7%) undergoing induced D&E had hemorrhage (odds ratio [OR] = 2.90, 95% confidence interval [0.96, 8.77]). Six (9.4%) patients with IUFD and none undergoing induced D&E had DIC (OR = 28.56 [1.58, 515.38]). Median QBL was 75.0 mL (50, 162.5) for patients with IUFD vs 110.0 mL (50, 200) for those undergoing induced D&E (p = 0.083). Twelve (18.8%) patients with IUFD vs seven (5.5%) undergoing induced D&E received at least one intervention due to bleeding complications (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

We found a higher DIC frequency but no significant difference in hemorrhage or QBL in IUFD D&E compared to induced abortion. Our IUFD D&E complication frequency is higher than those previously published.

IMPLICATIONS

Our results affirm current standards of care for D&E in patients with IUFD. Large referral centers may have higher proportions of complications compared to other sites.

Atypical Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome Following Obstetric Hemorrhage in the Setting of Fetal Demise and Placenta Accreta: A Case Report

Multiple disease processes can contribute to coagulopathy in the setting of intrauterine fetal demise. A 34-year-old woman with multiple prior uterine surgeries presented for dilation and evacuation of a fetal demise at 17 weeks. Her case was complicated by significant hemorrhage and coagulopathy requiring massive transfusion and hysterectomy. She developed atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome postoperatively. Pathology identified a focal placenta accreta. While not known to present together, fetal demise, placenta accreta, and atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome can occur in the same patient with an overlapping presentation. Early hematology consultation is recommended in the setting of ongoing hemolysis and renal dysfunction.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and Hemorrhage After Dilation and Evacuation Abortion for Fetal Death

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between fetal death and risk of hemorrhage and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) among women undergoing dilation and evacuation (D&E) procedures.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all D&Es at one academic abortion clinic in San Francisco between 2009 and 2013. We abstracted data on fetal death status, demographic characteristics, and complications including hemorrhage and DIC. We examined the risk of hemorrhage and DIC among women with fetal death compared with those without. We conducted unadjusted and adjusted analyses for the outcomes of hemorrhage, DIC, and any complication.

RESULTS

Among 92 cases of D&E for fetal death and 4,428 cases of D&E for other reasons, hemorrhage occurred in 10% and 7%, respectively (P=.28), and DIC occurred in 2.0% and 0.2% of the fetal death and nonfetal death cohorts (P<.001). In adjusted analysis, fetal death was associated with 2.9 times higher odds of hemorrhage (95% CI 1.4-6.0). In an unadjusted analysis, fetal death was associated with 12.3 times higher odds of DIC (95% CI 2.6-58.6) and 3.0 times higher odds of any complication (95% CI 1.6-5.9).

CONCLUSION

Women undergoing D&E for fetal death are far more likely to experience DIC and hemorrhage than are women without fetal death, yet the absolute risk is low (2%). Although D&E providers should be prepared for DIC and hemorrhage, we do not recommend any specific preoperative preparation because the vast majority of D&E abortions for fetal death are uncomplicated.

Maternal and procedural factors associated with estimated blood loss in second trimester surgical uterine evacuation: a retrospective cohort analysis

BACKGROUND

Prior studies examining bleeding with uterine evacuation have focused on high-volume centers performing over 1100 procedures annually. The aim of this study was to examine associations between blood loss and patient and procedural characteristics in a center performing fewer than 50 procedures annually.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study, with institutional review board approval, utilized procedural codes to identify patients undergoing uterine evacuation procedures between 14 weeks' and 24 weeks' gestational age across a 50-month period. The primary outcome was estimated blood loss; secondary outcomes were hemorrhage, transfusion and hospital re-admission. Associations between blood loss and other variables were examined using linear regression models.

RESULTS

Charts of 161 women met inclusion criteria. Median estimated blood loss was 400 mL (IQR 300 mL) with 37% of patients having blood loss of ≥500 mL. In univariate analyses, increased blood loss was associated with later gestational age (P <0.001) and pregnancy termination (P <0.001). In a multiple linear regression model, both remained significant. Each one-week increase in gestational age was associated with a 7.1% mean increase in estimated blood loss (95% CI 2.47% to 11.9%; P=0.003). Patients whose uterine evacuation was indicated for pregnancy termination had an 80.6% increase in blood loss compared with those with pre-operative fetal demise (95% CI 37.5% to 137.2%; P <0.001). Rates of peri-operative transfusion and re-admission for bleeding were <4%.

CONCLUSION

While blood loss may be greater in low volume centers, our transfusion and re-admission rates were low following second trimester uterine evacuation.