A woman presents to the emergency department complaining of bleeding and cramping. The initial nursing history is significant for a last menstrual period 6 weeks ago. On sterile speculum examination, the primary care provider finds that the cervix is closed. The anticipated plan of care for this woman would be based on a probable diagnosis of which type of spontaneous abortion?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The probable diagnosis based on the findings of a closed cervix and bleeding and cramping 6 weeks after the last menstrual period is a threatened abortion. In a threatened abortion, the cervix is closed and there is vaginal bleeding, but there is no expulsion of pregnancy tissue. The plan of care for a threatened abortion would focus on monitoring the woman closely for signs of possible progression to incomplete or inevitable abortion and providing emotional support. In an incomplete abortion, some but not all of the pregnancy tissue is passed and the cervix is open, while in an inevitable abortion, the cervix is also open but all of the pregnancy tissue has not yet been expelled. Septic abortion refers to an infection that occurs in association with a spontaneous abortion.

A Woman Presents to the Emergency Department Complaining of Bleeding