Table 4.
Distribution of Causes of Death by Gestational Age and Type of Abortion Procedure: Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System, United States, 1998–2010
| Gestational Age and Procedure |
Cause of Death | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| n | Hemorrhage | Infection | |
| 13 wk of gestation or less | 48 | 5 | 19 |
| No procedure* | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Medical procedure† | 12 | 2 | 9 |
| Suction curettage | 28 | 2 | 6 |
| Unknown procedure | 7 | 1 | 4 |
| More than 13 wk of gestation | 54 | 17 | 17 |
| No procedure* | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Medical procedure† | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Dilation and evacuation | 39 | 16 | 12 |
| Other procedure‡ | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown procedure | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown gestational age | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Total, all gestational ages and all procedures | 108 | 22 | 37 |
| Cause of Death | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embolism | Anesthesia Complications | Cardiovascular Diseases | Medical, Noncardiovascular Conditions | Unknown |
| 5 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | 22 | 5 | 8 | 2 |
Data are n.
*
No procedure: Laminaria placed or anesthesia administered but planned abortion procedure never occurred.
†
Medical procedure: administration of medication(s), typically mifepristone followed by misoprostol at 8 weeks of gestation or less and vaginal prostaglandins at more than 8 weeks of gestation.
‡
Other procedures: hysterotomy and intrauterine instillation.