TRANSVAGINAL SONOGRAPHY OF THE UTERINE CAVITY FOLLOWING CURETTAGE FOR EARLY-PREGNANCY FAILURE

In a study of 50 women presenting with sonographically confirmed early pregnancy failure, the uterine contents were measured in both sagittal and transverse planes before proceeding with evacuation of the retained products of conception. A repeat sonographic study of the empty uterine cavity was performed on the day after curettage and similar measurements were made, the subjects having been divided into four groups according to gestational age. There was no significant difference between the groups in the postoperative measurements of either uterine cavity width or area, nor was the size of the empty uterine cavity influenced by the volume of tissue within the uterus before evacuation. Whilst the measurement of width was similar both before and after evacuation of the uterus in all groups, the sagittal area was significantly smaller postoperatively. There was no evidence of retained tissue at any of the postoperative sonographic examinations, nor did any of the subjects in the study develop subsequent complications. Assuming the dimensions of the uterine cavity following curettage are representative of an empty uterus, this will form the basis of a prospective study to determine whether spontaneous abortion can be safely managed without curettage in selected cases, if the preoperative sonographic measurements fall within a specified range.