Embryonic arrest means

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on September 05, 2024
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Embryonic arrest, as the name implies, refers to the cessation of embryo development. In clinical practice, it is also called fibroid miscarriage. Embryonic arrest is a pathological condition. Normally, in the early stages of pregnancy, as activity increases, the gestational sac gradually begins to show a yolk sac, embryo bud, and fetal heartbeat. If the fetal heartbeat is still not visible after a certain period, it indicates that the gestational sac is in a state of decay and that the embryo has stopped developing. Generally, 9 weeks of pregnancy is considered the final deadline for diagnosis. If no fetal heartbeat is detected during an ultrasound at 9 weeks of pregnancy, it can be diagnosed as embryonic arrest. Once diagnosed, it is advisable to proceed with an abortion as soon as possible to minimize harm to the woman’s body. If embryonic arrest occurs consecutively more than twice, a thorough examination of both partners should be conducted to determine the cause, to guide the next pregnancy.

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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 Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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How to handle bleeding due to embryonic arrest?

If it has already been determined that the embryo has ceased to develop and significant vaginal bleeding has occurred, it is likely that the bleeding is caused by uterine contractions stimulated by the halted embryonic development. In this case, it is first necessary to seek medical attention promptly. After confirming the halted development of the embryo, it is important to perform a surgical abortion promptly to completely remove all tissues associated with the ceased embryonic development, reducing the occurrence of post-abortion bleeding. After the surgery, it is also necessary to promptly use antibiotics to prevent infections within the uterine cavity.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Can an arrested embryo be expelled naturally?

Embryonic arrest, also known as missed miscarriage, refers to the restriction of growth and development of the gestational sac in early pregnancy due to various factors, with no fetal heartbeat detected on an ultrasound at 9 weeks of pregnancy. When embryonic arrest occurs, a natural miscarriage may happen, but it's also possible that a natural miscarriage won't occur. Once embryonic arrest is confirmed, waiting for a natural miscarriage isn't advisable, as it is unpredictable and sometimes there might be no signs of miscarriage for a long time. Unrestricted waiting in such cases can harm a woman's body. Therefore, once embryonic arrest is diagnosed, hospitalization should be promptly sought, and artificial intervention methods such as surgical or medical abortion should be considered. While there is a possibility that the embryo could be expelled naturally, the likelihood is relatively low.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Can an ultrasound detect an embryonic arrest?

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 to do about abdominal pain caused by embryonic arrest?

After discovering an embryonic arrest accompanied by abdominal pain, it is important to observe whether there is vaginal bleeding or expulsion of embryonic tissue. If the embryo is not expelled in time, an immediate uterine evacuation surgery is necessary to avoid the risk of intrauterine infection and impact on health. After the surgery, it is important to rest, enhance nutrition, and eat foods rich in vitamins and proteins. Moreover, a week later, a visit to the hospital for an ultrasound should be conducted to check if the expulsion was complete and to understand the recovery status of the uterus.