Fetal death in utero

Fetal death in utero (FDIU), also known as intrauterine death (IUD), is the term used when the death of a fetus occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy. Prior to this, it is considered a miscarriage.

Epidemiology

1% of normal, uncomplicated pregnancies end in fetal death. In ~15% of FDIU, no cause is identified.

Pathology

Etiology

Maternal 

• gestational hypertension
• blood group incompatibility
• metabolic disorders
• intrauterine infections

Fetal

• major anomalies
• umbilical cord complications (looping, knotting, twisting, straight cord)

Placental

• chronic placental insufficiency
• placental abruption
• chorioamnionitis

Radiographic features

Ultrasound

• absent fetal heart beat
• absent fetal movements
• occasional findings
  • overlapping of skull bones (Spalding sign)
  • gross distortion of fetal anatomy (maceration)
  • soft tissue edema: skin >5 mm
  • echogenic amniotic fluid fetal demise fragments)
• uncommon findings
  • thrombus in fetal heart
  • gas shadow in fetal heart (Robert sign)​

Siehe auch:

• Abortus completus
• embryonal demise
• verhaltener Abort
• Abortus incompletus
• drohende Fehlgeburt
• habitual miscarriage
• unvermeidliche Fehlgeburt

und weiter:

• obstetric curriculum
• double decidual sac sign
• Placenta membranacea
• Triploidie
• failed early pregnancy : ASUM, RCOG and ACR criteria
• Abortivei
• per vaginal bleeding in the exam
• hydropic degeneration of the placenta
• differential diagnosis for bleeding in pregnancy
• partial hydatidiform mole
• amniocentesis
• AIDS embryopathy
• chorionic villus sampling
• intra-uterine blood clot
• fetal death
• fetal heart beat
• spalding sign