Skip to main content
PMC home page
Bulletin of the World Health Organization logoLink to Bulletin of the World Health Organization
. 1975;52(2):123–139.

Early complications and late sequelae of induced abortion: a review of the literature

Karin G B Edström
PMCID: PMC2366362  PMID: 770027

Abstract

An attempt to evaluate the recent literature on somatic complications of induced abortion shows that a great amount of data of widely varying quality has been collected. Many areas of research are still not covered in a way that permits valid conclusions to be drawn. Two important points emerge from the review: first, there is a need for uniform definitions of complications and some uniformity in the analysis of data collected; secondly, carefully selected control groups are needed in this kind of research. The areas most urgently requiring further study differ from country to country. From a global point of view, the existence or inexistence of significant late sequelae and the influence of the patient's health status on the complication rate seem to be of the highest priority.

Full text

PDF
124

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Andreev D. Comparative histological investigations on the evacuated uterine mucous membrane in the vacuum-excochleation and classical methods of interruption of pregnancy. Folia Med (Plovdiv) 1969;11(2):88–96. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Atanasov A., Penev I. Kombinirano prilozhenie na aspiratsionniia metod i abortnite shchiptsi pri izkustveniia abort mezhdu 13-ta i 18-ta sedmitsa na bremennostta. Akush Ginekol (Sofiia) 1970;9(3):223–228. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Atanasov A. Uslozhneniia pri prekŭsvane na bremennostta v zavisimost ot izpolzuvaniia metod--klasicheski ili aspiratsionen. Akush Ginekol (Sofiia) 1970;9(4):271–277. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Atterfelt P., Bendz A., Brody S., Himmelmann A. Tidiga somatiska komplikationer vid abortingrepp. Lakartidningen. 1972 Jan 12;69(3):241–246. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Berić B. M., Kupresanin M. Vacuum aspiration, using pericervical block, for legal abortion as an outpatient procedure up to the 12th week of pregnancy. Lancet. 1971 Sep 18;2(7725):619–621. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(71)80067-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bowman J. M. Transplacental haemorrhage after abortion. Lancet. 1970 May 23;1(7656):1108–1108. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)92770-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. CHALUPA M. GEBRAUCH DES VAKUUM ZUR KUENSTLICHEN SCHWANGERSCHAFTSUNTERBRECHUNG. Zentralbl Gynakol. 1964 Dec 19;86:1803–1808. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. CRAWFORD J. S. The place of halothane in obstetrics. Br J Anaesth. 1962 Jun;34:386–390. doi: 10.1093/bja/34.6.386. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Cameron J. M., Dayan A. D. Association of brain damage with therapeutic abortion induced by amniotic-fluid replacement: report of two cases. Br Med J. 1966 Apr 23;1(5494):1010–1013. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5494.1010. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Cernoch A. Künstliche Schwangerschaftsunterbreechung und extrauterine Schwangerschaft. Zentralbl Gynakol. 1971 Dec 25;93(52):1784–1791. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Cheng M. C., Ratnam S. S. Intrauterine injection of 20 per cent saline for inducing abortion. Singapore Med J. 1971 Oct;12(5):259–263. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Czeizel A., Bognar Z. Mortality and morbidity of legal abortion. Lancet. 1971 Jul 24;2(7717):209–210. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(71)90916-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Droegemueller W., Greer B. E. Saline versus glucose as a hypertonic solution for abortion. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1970 Oct 15;108(4):606–609. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(70)90240-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Drác P., Nekvasilová Z. Ppredcasné ukoncení tehotenstvi po predcházejícím umelém prerusení. Cesk Gynekol. 1970 Jul;35(6):332–333. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Futoran J. M., Lowenstein J. M., Peacock W. G. Experience with intra-amniotic hypertonic saline injections. Aburel's procedure. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1969 Sep 15;105(2):191–196. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(69)90056-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Greenhalfjo, Diggory P. L. Induction of therapeutic abortion by intra-amniotic injection of urea. Br Med J. 1971 Jan 2;1(5739):28–29. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5739.28. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Gustavii B. Studies on accidental intravascular injection in extra-amniotic saline induced abortion and a method for reducing this risk. J Reprod Med. 1972 Feb;8(2):70–74. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Heczko P., Gazárek F., Jirátko K. Vliv interrupce první gravidity na gestaci. Cesk Gynekol. 1970 Jul;35(6):333–334. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Huntingford P. Mortality and morbidity of abortion. Lancet. 1971 May 15;1(7707):1012–1013. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(71)91403-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Ingraham H. S., Longood R. J. Abortion in New York State since July 1970. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 1971 Mar;14(1):5–24. doi: 10.1097/00003081-197103000-00002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Johansson E. D. The effect of oxytocin on the complication rate of early therapeutic abortions. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 1970;49(2):129–131. doi: 10.3109/00016347009158043. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Kerenyi T. D., Mandelman N., Sherman D. H. Five thousand consecutive saline inductions. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1973 Jul 1;116(5):593–600. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9378(15)33120-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Kerenyi T. D. Outpatient intra-amniotic injection of hypertonic saline. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 1971 Mar;14(1):124–140. doi: 10.1097/00003081-197103000-00012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Kerslake D., Casey D. Abortion induced by means of the uterine aspirator. Obstet Gynecol. 1967 Jul;30(1):35–45. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Kestelman P. Mortality and morbidity of abortion. Lancet. 1971 Aug 14;2(7720):368–369. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(71)90078-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Kuck M. Abortion in Czechoslovakia. Proc R Soc Med. 1969 Aug;62(8):831–832. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Lachelin G. C., Burgess D. E. Therapeutic abortion using Utus paste. J Obstet Gynaecol Br Commonw. 1968 Nov;75(11):1173–1175. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1968.tb02905.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Lakoff K. M., Klein J., Bolognese R. J., Corson S. L. Transplacental hemorrhage during voluntary interruption of pregnancy. J Reprod Med. 1971 Jun;6(6):260–261. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Lauritsen J. G., Haack-Sorensen P. E. Abortus provocatus legalis. Det føprste år under den nye svangerskabslov. Ugeskr Laeger. 1972 Feb 21;134(8):405–410. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Lembrych S. Schwangerschafts-,Geburts- und Woechenbettverlauf nach künstlicher Unterbrechung der ersten Gravidität. Zentralbl Gynakol. 1972 Feb 5;94(5):164–168. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Lewis B. V., Pybus A., Stilwell J. H. The oxytocic effect of acridine dyes and their use in terminating mid-trimester pregnancies. J Obstet Gynaecol Br Commonw. 1971 Sep;78(9):838–842. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1971.tb00349.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Loung K. C., Buckle A. E., Anderson M. M. Results in 1,000 cases of therapeutic abortion managed by vacuum aspiration. Br Med J. 1971 Nov 20;4(5785):477–479. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5785.477. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Mackenzie J. M., Roufa A., Tovell H. M. Midtrimester abortion: clinical experience with amniocentesis and hypertonic instillation in 400 patients. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 1971 Mar;14(1):107–123. doi: 10.1097/00003081-197103000-00011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Manabe Y. Artificial abortion at midpregnancy by mechanical stimulation of the uterus. A review of 20 years' experience with current methods in Japan. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1969 Sep 1;105(1):132–146. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(69)90172-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Mandausová O., Exnerová E. Následky umelého prerusení tehotenství u mladistvých. Cesk Gynekol. 1970 Sep;35(7):402–404. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Matthews C. D., Matthews A. E. Transplacental haemorrhage in spontaneous and induced abortion. Lancet. 1969 Apr 5;1(7597):694–695. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(69)92646-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Moberg P., Sjöberg B., Wiqvist N. The hazards of vacuum aspiration in late first trimester abortions. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 1975;54(2):113–118. doi: 10.3109/00016347509156742. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Murray S., Barron S. L., McNay R. A. Transplacental haemorrhage after abortion. Lancet. 1970 Mar 28;1(7648):631–634. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)90881-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Nathanson B. N. Ambulatory abortion: experience with 26,000 cases (July 1, 1970, to August 1, 1971). N Engl J Med. 1972 Feb 24;286(8):403–407. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197202242860805. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Neubauer G. Transplacental haemorrhage after abortion. Lancet. 1970 May 2;1(7653):952–952. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)91078-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Newton B. W. The art of abortion. 1. Curettage of the pregnant uterus. Postgrad Med. 1971 Aug;50(2):131–136. doi: 10.1080/00325481.1971.11696722. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Pakter J., Nelson F. Abortion in New York City: the first nine months. Fam Plann Perspect. 1971 Jul;3(3):5–12. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Parmley T. H., Montague A. C., Miller E. Transplacental hemorrhage in patients subjected to therapeutic abortion. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1970 Feb 15;106(4):540–542. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(70)90038-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Penfield A. J. Abortion under paracervical block. N Y State J Med. 1971 Jun 1;71(11):1185–1189. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Potts M., Branch B. N. Legal abortion in the U.S.A. A preliminary assessment. Lancet. 1971 Sep 18;2(7725):651–653. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(71)80088-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Pugh M., Khunda S., Baldwin R. Induction of therapeutic abortion with urea. Br Med J. 1971 Feb 6;1(5744):345–345. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5744.345. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  47. Queenan J. T., Kubarych S. F., Shah S., Holland B. Role of induced abortion in rhesus immunisation. Lancet. 1971 Apr 24;1(7704):815–817. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(71)91493-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  48. Reiss H. E. Termination of pregnancy by the use of intra-amniotic hypertonic saline. Proc R Soc Med. 1969 Aug;62(8):832–833. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  49. Ruttner B. Termination of midtrimester pregnancy by transvaginal intra-aminiotic injection of hypertonic solution. Obstet Gynecol. 1966 Nov;28(5):601–605. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  50. Schulman H., Kaiser I. H., Randolph G. Outpatient saline abortion. Obstet Gynecol. 1971 Apr;37(4):521–526. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  51. Sogolow S. R. Vaginal tubal ligation at time of vacuum curettage for abortion. Obstet Gynecol. 1971 Dec;38(6):888–892. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  52. Sood S. V. Some operative and postoperative hazards of legal termination of pregnancy. Br Med J. 1971 Oct 30;4(5782):270–273. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5782.270. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  53. Sood S. V. Termination of pregnancy by the intrauterine insertion of Utus paste. Br Med J. 1971 May 8;2(5757):315–317. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5757.315. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  54. Stallworthy J. A., Moolgaoker A. S., Walsh J. J. Legal abortion: a critical assessment of its risks. Lancet. 1971 Dec 4;2(7736):1245–1249. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(71)90559-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  55. Stander R. W., Flessa H. C., Glueck H. I., Kisker C. T. Changes in maternal coagulation factors after intra-amniotic injection of hypertonic saline. Obstet Gynecol. 1971 May;37(5):660–666. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  56. Steptoe P. C. Recent advances in surgical methods of control of fertility and infertility. Br Med Bull. 1970 Jan;26(1):60–64. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bmb.a070744. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  57. Sternadel Z., Wójcik M. Zastosowanie preparatu syntometrin w przypadkach oprózniania jamy macicy z jaja płodowego. Ginekol Pol. 1969;40(4):377–380. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  58. Strausz I. K., Schulman H. 500 outpatient abortions performed under local anesthesia. Obstet Gynecol. 1971 Aug;38(2):199–205. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  59. Talbert L. M., Adcock D. F., Weiss A. E., Easterling W. E., Jr, Odom M. H. Studies on the pathogenesis of clotting defects during salt-induced abortions. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1973 Mar 1;115(5):656–662. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(73)90614-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  60. Tietze C., Lewit S. Early medical complications of abortion by saline: joint program for the study of abortion (JPSA). Stud Fam Plann. 1973 Jun;4(6):133–138. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  61. VLADOV E., IVANOV I., ANGELOV A., RAKILOVSKA I. SCHWANGERSCHAFTSUNTERBRECHUNG MIT VAKUUMASPIRATION. Gynaecologia. 1965;159:54–60. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  62. Vojta M. A critical view of vacuum aspiration: a new method for the termination of pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 1967 Jul;30(1):28–34. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  63. Wagatsuma T. Intra-amniotic injection of saline for therapeutic abortion. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1965 Nov 1;93(5):743–745. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  64. Walsh J. J., Lewis B. V. Transplacental haemorrhage due to termination of pregnancy. J Obstet Gynaecol Br Commonw. 1970 Feb;77(2):133–136. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1970.tb03490.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  65. Wiqvist N., Bygdeman M., Toppozada M. Intra-aminotic prostaglandin administration-a challenge to the currently used methods for induction of midtrimester abortion. Contraception. 1973 Aug;8(2):113–131. doi: 10.1016/0010-7824(73)90119-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Bulletin of the World Health Organization are provided here courtesy of World Health Organization

RESOURCES