Prospective controlled study of subchorionic bleeding in threatened abortion

ABSTRACT

In a prospective study, the prevalence and prognostic significance of subchronic hematoma in patients with threatened abortion was determined. The study comprised 384 pregnant women who had vaginal bleeding in weeks 9-20 of pregnancy and a live fetus shown with sonography. Sonograms showed a subchronic hematoma in 64 patients [16.6%]. The average size of the hematoma was 24.9 ml [range 4- 160 ml]. The presence of a subchronic hematoma did not significantly affect the outcome of pregnancy. The rate of abortion was 12.5% in patients with subchronic hematoma and 11.9% in patients without evidence of subchronic hematoma. The rate of preterm delivery was 14.1% in patients with subchronic hematoma and 13.8% in patients without subchronic hematoma. No significant relationship was found between pregnancy outcome and site, echogenicity of the hematoma or the presence or absence of placental detachment. It was not the absolute volume but the relative volume of the hematoma that did affect the pregnancy outcome: