Hospital Admissions for Abortion Complications

Introduction

The New Zealand Medical Journal¹ has reported,
“A common cause of acute admission to Christchurch Women's Hospital is complication after termination of pregnancy… The apparently excessive number of such admissions generated an interest among the admitting staff.”

Results

Overall Complication Rate

There were 2879 terminations performed in Christchurch in the study period. There were 167 admissions to Christchurch Women's Hospital with complications of termination of pregnancy which gives a gross rate of 5.8% (excluding those who sought help elsewhere).

Life Threatening Complications

Two patients presented with immediately life-threatening conditions. One had a large haemorrhage due to a perforated uterus. This patient required hysterectomy as a life saving procedure. The other patient developed severe sepsis with retained products of conception after dilation and evacuation at 16 weeks.

Immediate Complications Admitted from Lyndhurst Hospital

Twenty three patients presented from Lynhurst Hospital with immediate complications including perforation, haemorrhage and post operative pain. Five patients were referred when termination of pregnancy could not be performed under local anaesthetic.

Delayed Complications

The majority presented with a history of lower abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding.

Treatment on Admission

Of the 167 admissions; 84% had D and C's, 55% had treatment with intravenous broad spectrum antibiotics. Eight patients proceeded to laparotomy, four others underwent laparoscopies.

Findings included perforation (7), ectopic pregnancy (2), and a tuboovarian abcess. Of 16 recognised perforations, 7 were taken to theatre.

 

ENDNOTES:

1 Peter Sykes, "Complications of termination of pregnancy: a retrospective study of admissions to Christchurch Women's Hospital 1989 and 1990," New Zealand Medical Journal, 1993; 106:83-85

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