Endovaginal US and Doppler findings after first-trimester abortion

Endovaginal ultrasound (US) imaging and color Doppler flow imaging techniques were used to evaluate the uterus and its contents and to establish characteristics of a normal post-abortion appearance in 19 women who underwent elective first-trimester abortions. Twenty-two examinations were performed between 2 and 17 days after the procedure. Thirteen of the 22 examinations (59%) showed different amounts of intrauterine material of varying echogenicity. Seven of the 22 examinations (32%) showed a thick endometrial stripe, and only two showed a normal stripe. Color Doppler flow imaging demonstrated typical peritrophoblastic flow in four of eight patients on the second and third days after the abortions were performed. After the third day, flow was observed in only two of 11 patients, and intrauterine material was also seen. These results indicate that intrauterine material and low-impedance flow are frequently observed after an abortion and do not necessarily indicate clinically important retained products of conception.