Age Specific Patient Care Related

Review Age Specific Patient Care related questions and content

A patient, who has had three successive spontaneous abortions, reached the twelfth week of pregnancy on the fourth attempt, when she passed a moderate amount of blood with clots per vaginam and complained of intermittent lower abdominal pain. On vaginal examination, the cervical canal admitted one finger readily and bimanual palpation revealed a uterus compatible in size with a pregnancy of only eight weeks duration. The menstrual cycle had been regular (5/28) before this pregnancy and the duration of pregnancy calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period was definitely known. Which one of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

  • A. Threatened abortion.
  • B. Cervical incompetence.
  • C. Incomplete abortion.
  • D. Ectopic pregnancy.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Bleeding, pain, open cervix, and uterine size smaller than expected (8 weeks vs. 12 weeks) suggest incomplete abortion (C), where some products of conception remain. Threatened abortion (A) has a closed cervix, cervical incompetence (B) lacks bleeding, ectopic (D) has different signs, and missed abortion (E) has no expulsion.