Retained Products of Conception (RPOC): Diagnosis, Complication & Management

Retained products of conception (RPOC) generally result after first half of pregnancy termination and also may occur after vaginal or cesarean delivery. It frequently presents with irregular or continuous vaginal bleeding, lower abdominal and pelvic pain, and discharge per vaginum due to infection; it can also cause late complications like formation of intrauterine adhesions and subfertility. The diagnosis of the RPOC along with the symptoms is generally supported by ultrasonography with or without colour Doppler. The patient also undergoes uterine vasculature assessment to diagnose arteriovenous malformation (AVM). The management of RPOC has been conventionally done with blind dilation and suction curettage (D and C); however, expectant management, uterine artery embolization, and hysteroscopic resection of RPOC are safe and efficient alternatives.

In this review, we analyse the current available evidence regarding the clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of RPOC comparing the sensitivity, specificity, outcomes, pros and cons of various methods.

RPOC is a common complication associated with early and late complications. The judicious use of antibiotics along with interventional radiology and hysteroscopy forms the backbone for the treatment of this condition.