Faculty Bibliography

The sine qua non of fetal well-being in the first trimester is considered to be the presence of fetal cardiac activity. Despite fetal viability, some pregnancies might have a sac that is too large or small for the gestational age, even in the first trimester. As a first step in evaluating this hypothesis, a nomogram was constructed for the ratio of normal sac volume to crown-rump length

This technique has simplified ostomy care and has helped reduce skin complications. The ready availability of rubber tubing in the operating room makes this technique quite practical

Fifty-six patients with clinical threatened abortion were evaluated by sonography. In six patients, fetal cardiac activity was absent at or beyond 9 weeks of gestation, and fetal death was confirmed in all six cases. In the other 50 patients, fetal cardiac activity was present at or beyond 9 weeks of gestation. In 10 (20%) of these 50 patients, subchorionic bleeding was present in various degrees, appearing sonographically as an extrachorionic crescentic anechoic or complex collection. The final outcome in the 50 patients with fetal cardiac activity was as follows: In the absence of subchorionic bleeding, 100% of the pregnancies progressed to term; in the presence of subchorionic bleeding the positive outcome was reduced to 80%. In addition to signs of fetal life on sonography, subchorionic bleeding is an important factor affecting the outcome of gestations in patients with clinical threatened abortion