Can an ultrasound detect an embryonic arrest?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on September 23, 2024
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Embryonic arrest refers to a condition in early pregnancy where no fetal heartbeat appears in the gestational sac. The diagnostic criteria mainly include the lack of observable primitive heart tube pulsation via ultrasound after two months of pregnancy, at which point embryonic arrest can be confirmed. The definitive diagnosis of embryonic arrest is primarily through ultrasound. The following situations observed during an ultrasound can lead to a diagnosis of embryonic arrest: 1. If the diameter of the gestational sac exceeds three centimeters without a clear fetal heartbeat or embryo visible inside, it can be diagnosed as embryonic arrest. 2. If an embryo is already present and approximately 10 days after the appearance of the embryo, an ultrasound still does not show a fetal heartbeat, this situation can also be determined as embryonic arrest.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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What will happen if a miscarried embryo is not removed from the uterus?

After embryonic arrest occurs, it is necessary to handle it promptly, which involves expelling the embryo from the body. If the embryo remains for an extended period without timely intervention, it can easily lead to an infection in the uterine cavity, or even sepsis. The fetus may adhere to the uterine wall, making it difficult to clean later and can easily cause severe bleeding, seriously endangering the patient's life. Therefore, once we identify that an embryonic arrest has definitely occurred, it is crucial to undergo prompt uterine cleaning treatment. It is advisable to communicate with the hospital doctors and take appropriate measures.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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What are the causes of embryonic arrest?

If an embryonic arrest is discovered, there are many specific reasons for the arrest. Firstly, the main reason for embryonic arrest is due to congenital abnormalities in the formation and development of the fertilized egg, which is a relatively common situation. Moreover, embryonic arrest usually occurs early when there are developmental abnormalities. In some cases, it may be caused by maternal factors, such as abnormal diseases in the mother or abnormalities in chromosomes, which can lead to poor embryonic development and subsequently cause embryonic arrest. Occasionally, issues related to the viability of the male sperm, or the presence of abnormal sperm, may also lead to embryonic arrest. Because there are many reasons for embryonic arrest, it is generally not possible to systematically investigate the specific causes.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Will the embryo still grow if the embryo has ceased development?

Embryo arrest, also known as missed abortion, refers to the condition in early pregnancy where, due to congenital developmental defects in the gestational sac or other influencing factors, natural development does not occur, resulting in the absence of a fetal heartbeat. Once embryo arrest has been diagnosed, the embryo generally does not continue to grow, because embryo arrest means that the gestational sac has died and is gradually decaying. If a subsequent ultrasound check reveals that the embryo may have grown slightly since the previous examination, this should not be considered as growth continuation of the embryo, but rather attributed to measurement error. Therefore, once embryo arrest is detected and meets diagnostic criteria, timely re-examination may show some lengthening of the embryo. However, in the absence of a fetal heartbeat, it still needs to be treated as embryo arrest, and an abortion procedure should be promptly performed.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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How long does it take for a miscarried embryo to be expelled from the body?

After the embryo ceases to develop, some may naturally miscarry. Others may not be expelled naturally and require medical intervention for removal. After the embryo has stopped developing, the timing of expulsion varies from person to person due to different physical constitutions. Most women can naturally miscarry after the embryo stops developing, typically within about ten days when expulsion occurs. However, some embryonic tissue may be larger and adhere to the uterine cavity, preventing expulsion and causing continuous vaginal bleeding. In such cases, a visit to the hospital for an ultrasound is necessary, followed by medical abortion or a dilation and curettage procedure.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Is embryonic arrest related to diet?

Embryo arrest, also known as missed miscarriage, refers to the absence of a fetal heartbeat in the early stages of pregnancy due to various factors affecting the gestational sac. Typically, if no fetal heartbeat and embryo are detected during an ultrasound at about 8 to 9 weeks of pregnancy, it can be diagnosed as embryo arrest. Currently, there are many reasons for embryo arrest in clinical practice, but many pregnant women look for causes in their daily life, such as diet and exercise. However, these factors are largely unrelated to embryo arrest. While diet plays a very important role in human health, the growth and development of an embryo are mainly influenced by its own genetic material, endocrine, and coagulation factors, which are generally unrelated to diet. Therefore, when embryo arrest occurs, one should not look for reasons in diet or other daily life factors; instead, it is advisable to undergo targeted medical examinations to determine the specific cause.