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

Efficacy of pharmacologic hemorrhage prophylactics in second-trimester abortions: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate prophylactic uterotonics, antifibrinolytic medications, and vasoconstrictive agents in the prevention of hemorrhage during second-trimester abortions.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Embase (Elsevier platform), Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews (Ovid platform), and Web of Science were searched from database creation to October 30, 2023.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, and case series evaluating pregnant individuals (between 13 0/7 and 27 6/7 weeks of gestation) who underwent dilation and evacuation and received prophylactic uterotonics (methylergonovine, carboprost, oxytocin, or misoprostol), antifibrinolytic medications (tranexamic acid), or vasoconstrictive agents (vasopressin, lidocaine with epinephrine) were included in the study. The outcomes of interest included postprocedural bleeding, rate of medications to treat bleeding, blood transfusion, reoperation, and transfer to a higher level of care for hemorrhage.

METHODS

Of note, 2 authors independently screened the abstracts using the Systematic Review Data Repository. A third reviewer resolved discrepancies. The full text of accepted abstracts was retrieved and assessed for eligibility by 2 independent authors. Eligible studies were independently assessed for quality and bias by 3 authors. A consensus review resolved discrepancies.

RESULTS

Among 5834 abstracts screened, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria: 5 randomized controlled trials, 3 retrospective cohort studies, and 3 case series, totaling 3857 individuals. The paucity of studies combined with the heterogeneity of included trials precluded the performance of the meta-analysis. Of note, 4 studies evaluating misoprostol were of overall low-quality evidence and primarily assessed misoprostol's use for cervical dilation. Thus, its efficacy in bleeding prophylaxis remains unclear. Moreover, 2 high-quality trials evaluating oxytocin concluded that oxytocin use resulted in decreased blood loss, without a difference in interventions to control bleeding. Furthermore, 2 studies provided moderate-quality evidence that paracervical vasopressin use decreased blood loss, particularly at advanced gestational ages, but subsequent intervention outcomes were not assessed. High-quality evidence evaluating methylergonovine found that this medication increased blood loss at the time of the procedure.

CONCLUSION

Current evidence on hemorrhage prophylaxis at the time of dilation and evacuation supports the use of intravenous oxytocin or paracervical vasopressin to decrease procedural blood loss, without an associated decrease in transfusion rate or use of other interventions. Future research on outcomes by gestational age can identify subgroups with the potential to derive the most benefit.

Management of blood loss in second-trimester abortion

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

While major complications in second-trimester abortion are rare, blood loss and hemorrhage are among the most common and have the potential for high morbidity. Here, we review the current literature on risk factors, prevention, and treatment of blood loss in second-trimester abortion.

RECENT FINDINGS

A comprehensive approach to hemorrhage during second-trimester abortions is essential. Understanding hemorrhage risk factors, prevention strategies, and treatment options makes second-trimester abortion safer. Some pharmacologic methods may both prevent and treat excessive blood loss. Mechanical methods are primarily used for treatment. Key risk factors include prior uterine scars, gestational duration, insufficient cervical preparation, high BMI, procedural inexperience, fetal demise, and halogenated anesthetics. Developing evidence-based protocols for and further research into hemorrhage related complications are crucial for improving safety in second-trimester abortion care.

SUMMARY

Prevention of hemorrhage improves outcomes. However data are limited. For treatment, this includes using pharmacological interventions and mechanical methods. Identifying high-risk patients and implementing preprocedural optimization are proactive measures that aid in decreasing the occurrence and severity of blood loss and hemorrhage.

Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and subsequent kidney injury requiring dialysis after a second-trimester dilation and evacuation procedure

A primigravida in her 20s with a body mass index of 18 underwent dilation and evacuation at 22 and 4 weeks gestational age to manage an intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) that had occurred 14 days ago. Hypoxaemia and vaginal bleeding developed 90 min postprocedure. Investigations demonstrated changes compatible with acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to disseminated intravascular coagulopathy which was managed with intubation, mechanical ventilation and transfusion of blood products. Although the coagulopathy and respiratory failure resolved, severe acute kidney injury ensued resulting in acute tubular necrosis, severe labial oedema and the need for prolonged support with haemodialysis until kidney recovery 7 weeks later.

Obstetric anesthesia management of dilated cardiomyopathies and heart failure: a narrative review

Pregnancy in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy carries a significantly increased risk of maternal mortality or severe morbidity, and pregnancy is typically considered contraindicated for patients with severely reduced ventricular function. Nonetheless, anesthesiologists will still encounter patients with cardiomyopathy requiring delivery or termination care. This review describes how NT-ProBNP testing and echocardiography can help with early recognition of heart failure in pregnancy, and describes a suggested approach to anesthetic management of patients with cardiomyopathies or acute heart failure, including hemodynamic goals, use of vasoactive medications and mechanical support. Vaginal delivery, with effective neuraxial anesthesia is the preferred mode of delivery in most patients with cardiomyopathy, with cesarean delivery reserved for maternal or fetal indications. The Pregnancy Heart Team is vital in coordinating the multidisciplinary care necessary to safely support these patients through pregnancy.

Society of Family Planning Clinical Recommendation: Management of hemorrhage at the time of abortion

Hemorrhage after abortion is rare, occurring in fewer than 1% of abortions, but associated morbidity may be significant. Although medication abortion is associated with more bleeding than procedural abortion, overall bleeding for the two methods is minimal and not clinically different. Hemorrhage can be caused by atony, coagulopathy, and abnormal placentation, as well as by such procedure complications as perforation, cervical laceration, and retained tissue. Evidence for practices around postabortion hemorrhage is extremely limited. The Society of Family Planning recommends preoperative identification of individuals at high risk of hemorrhage as well as development of an organized approach to treatment. Specifically, individuals with a uterine scar and complete placenta previa seeking abortion at gestations after the first trimester should be evaluated for placenta accreta spectrum. For those at high risk of hemorrhage, referral to a higher-acuity center should be considered. We propose an algorithm for treating postabortion hemorrhage as follows: (1) assessment and examination, (2) uterine massage and medical therapy, (3) resuscitative measures with laboratory evaluation and possible reaspiration or balloon tamponade, and (4) interventions such as embolization and surgery. Evidence supports the use of oxytocin as prophylaxis for bleeding with dilation and evacuation; methylergonovine prophylaxis, however, is associated with more bleeding at the time of dilation and evacuation. Future research is needed on tranexamic acid as prophylaxis and treatment and misoprostol as prophylaxis. Structural inequities contribute to bleeding risk. Acknowledging how our policies hinder or remedy health inequities is essential when developing new guidelines and approaches to clinical services.

Second-trimester Abortion

In 2019, the US Centers for Disease Control reported that 7% of abortions were performed after 13 weeks of pregnancy, a small proportion of all terminations. However, the need for second-trimester abortions will increase commensurate with restrictions to access nationwide. Second-trimester abortions are performed with medications or through a procedure. Health care practitioners serving persons at risk of pregnancy should understand how abortions are performed and how to deliver evidence-based postabortion care. The purpose of this article is to provide a foundation for caring for individuals before, during, and after second-trimester abortion.

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.

Vaginal Bleeding Before 20 Weeks Gestation

Conditions that often present with vaginal bleeding before 20 weeks are common and can cause morbidity and mortality. Clinically stable patients can choose their management options. Clinically unstable patients require urgent procedural management: uterine aspiration, dilation and evacuation, or surgical removal of an ectopic pregnancy. Septic abortion requires prompt procedural management, intravenous antibiotics, and intravenous fluids. Available data on prognosis with expectant management of pre-viable rupture of membranes in the United States are poor for mothers and fetuses.

Anesthetic Considerations for Second-Trimester Surgical Abortions

Although most abortion care takes place in the office setting, anesthesiologists are often asked to provide anesthesia for the 1% of abortions that take place later, in the second trimester. Changes in federal and state regulations surrounding abortion services may result in an increase in second-trimester abortions due to barriers to accessing care. The need for interstate travel will reduce access and delay care for everyone, given limited appointment capacity in states that continue to support bodily autonomy. Therefore, anesthesiologists may be increasingly involved in care for these patients. There are multiple, unique anesthetic considerations to provide safe and compassionate care to patients undergoing second-trimester abortion. First, a multiday cervical preparation involving cervical osmotic dilators and pharmacologic agents results in a time-sensitive, nonelective procedure, which should not be delayed or canceled due to risk of fetal expulsion in the preoperative area. In addition, a growing body of literature suggests that the older anesthesia dogma that all pregnant patients require rapid-sequence induction and an endotracheal tube can be abandoned, and that deep sedation without intubation is safe and often preferable for this patient population through 24 weeks of gestation. Finally, concomitant substance use disorders, preoperative pain from cervical preparation, and intraoperative management of uterine atony in a uterus that does not yet have mature oxytocin receptors require additional consideration.

Motherwort Injection for Preventing Uterine Hemorrhage in Women With Induced Abortion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Evidence

Objective: Motherwort injection (MI) is a modern patented injection extracted from motherwort (Leonurus japonicus Hoult). Empirical studies and systematic reviews have shown the benefits of motherwort injection for preventing postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal delivery and cesarean section. This study was conducted to explore the efficacy and safety of motherwort injection for women with the prevention of post-abortion uterine hemorrhage. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify RCTs regarding the effect of the use of motherwort injection in women after abortion. Data from trials were pooled by meta-analysis and a random-effects model was used to calculate the summarized relative risks (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) methodology was used to access the quality of the evidence. Results: Nine trials with a total of 1,675 participants were identified. Overall, motherwort injection combined with oxytocin compared to oxytocin had a significantly lower blood loss within 2 hours (MD = -50.00, 95% CI -62.92 to -37.08, very low quality); lower blood loss within 24 h (MD = -50.00, 95% CI -62.92 to -37.08, very low quality); however, there was no significant difference between motherwort injection and oxytocin (24 h: MD: 0.72, 95% CI -7.76 to 9.20; 48 h: MD: -0.01, 95% CI -11.35 to 11.33; 72 h: MD: -1.12, 95% CI -14.39 to 12.15, very low quality). Compared with oxytocin or no intervention, both motherwort injection and motherwort injection combined with oxytocin had a significantly decreased duration of blood loss (MI vs. O: MD -2.59, 95% CI -4.59 to -0.60, very low quality; MI + O vs. O: MD -2.62, 95% CI -3.02 to -2.22, very low quality; MI + O vs. No intervention: MD: -1.80, 95% CI -2.28 to -1.33, low quality). Seven of nine included trials reported adverse event outcomes. Three cases were found in the motherwort injection group, and five induced abortion syndromes were found in the motherwort injection plus oxytocin group. 29 adverse events were reported in the oxytocin group instead. The recovery time of normal menstruation after abortion was significantly earlier in the group using motherwort injection compared with oxytocin (MDs -3.77, 95% CI -6.29 to -1.25, very low quality), and the endometrial thickness in the motherwort injection group was significantly different from that in the oxytocin group (MD: 2.24, 95% CI 1.58 to 2.90, very low quality). Conclusion: The results of this meta-analysis indicate prophylactic use of motherwort injection may reduce the risk of uterine hemorrhage in women after abortion, and more high-quality research is needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of motherwort injection in preventing uterine hemorrhage after abortion. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=274153, identifier CRD42021274153.

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.