• Sarah Cullen, Katarzyna Sobczyk, Rachel Elebert, Deborah Tarleton, Brenda Casey, Sam Doyle, David Crosby, and Cathy Allen.
• National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. scullen@nmh.ie.
• Ir J Med Sci. 2023 Aug 1; 192 (4): 175717601757-1760.

BackgroundSecond-trimester loss is pregnancy loss after the 12th and before the 24th completed weeks of pregnancy. This study aims to review cases of second-trimester miscarriage who attended a large maternity hospital and to examine pregnancy outcomes in this group of women.MethodsThis study is a review of cases of second-trimester miscarriage using descriptive, exploratory design, involving a retrospective chart review.ResultsIn this study, 106 cases of second-trimester miscarriage were reviewed. The cause of the miscarriage was found in 42.5% (n = 45) of cases. The majority of women, 84.5% (n = 82) had a normal pelvic ultrasound scan and 18.3% (n = 17) of cases were diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome. In women who became pregnant again, 60.9% (n = 39) had a live birth.ConclusionsEstablishing the cause of second-trimester miscarriage can be challenging, despite completing all recommended investigations. Outcomes in subsequent pregnancies are reassuring. This review highlights the need to undertake all recommended investigations to elicit the cause of second-trimester miscarriage and underpins the need for further research in this area.© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.

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