Open AccessManagement of uterine perforations in connection with legal abortions
Author(s) -
Lindell Gunnel,
Flam Folke
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349509024431
Subject(s) - medicine , uterine perforation , perforation , abortion , abdomen , pelvis , incidence (geometry) , surgery , obstetrics , gynecology , general surgery , pregnancy , family planning , research methodology , population , materials science , genetics , environmental health , physics , biology , optics , punching , metallurgy
The incidence of uterine perforation while performing legal abortions was evaluated in the Stockholm area. Among 84,850 legal abortions performed during 1982‐1992 there were 145 cases of uterine perforation; 0.17%. In about half of these cases an immediate exploration of the abdomen was decided upon and in 18 patients there were significant bleeding and/or lacerations to organs situated in the pelvis. No case of intestinal perforation was encountered. It is likely that many of these injuries would have healed just as well unattended. Based on this study, the authors advocate a conservative approach in dealing with uterine perforation in connection with vacuum aspiration for legal abortion.