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Bridwell R, Long B, Montrief T, Gottlieb M. Post-abortion Complications: A Narrative Review for Emergency Clinicians. West J Emerg Med 2022; 23:919-925. [DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2022.8.57929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
An abortion is a procedure defined by termination of pregnancy, most commonly performed in the first or second trimester. There are several means of classification, but the most important includes whether the abortion was maternally “safe” (performed in a safe, clean environment with experienced providers and no legal restrictions) or “unsafe” (performed with hazardous materials and techniques, by person without the needed skills, or in an environment where minimal medical standards are not met). Complication rates depend on the procedure type, gestational age, patient comorbidities, clinician experience, and most importantly, whether the abortion is safe or unsafe. Safe abortions have significantly lower complication rates compared to unsafe abortions. Complications include bleeding, retained products of conception, retained cervical dilator, uterine perforation, amniotic fluid embolism, misoprostol toxicity, and endometritis. Mortality rates for safe abortions are less than 0.2%, compared to unsafe abortion rates that range between 4.7-13.2%. History and physical examination are integral components in recognizing complications of safe and unsafe abortions, with management dependent upon the diagnosis. This narrative review provides a focused overview of post-abortion complications for emergency clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Bridwell
- Madigan Army Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Tacoma, Washington
| | - Brit Long
- Brooke Army Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
| | - Tim Montrief
- Jackson Memorial Health System, Department of Emergency Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Michael Gottlieb
- Rush University Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
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2
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Orlowski MH, Soares WE, Kerrigan KA, Zerden ML. Management of Postabortion Complications for the Emergency Medicine Clinician. Ann Emerg Med 2020; 77:221-232. [PMID: 33341294 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2020.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Although induced abortion is generally a safe outpatient procedure, many patients subsequently present to the emergency department, concerned about a postabortion complication. It is helpful for emergency physicians to understand the medications and procedures used in abortion care in the United States to effectively and efficiently triage and treat women presenting with potential complications from an abortion. Furthermore, because many states are experiencing increased abortion restrictions that limit access to care, emergency medicine physicians may encounter more patients presenting after self-managed abortions, which presents additional challenges. This article reviews the epidemiology and background of abortion care, including the range of symptoms and adverse effects that are within the scope of an uncomplicated procedure. This review also offers a comprehensive overview of management of abortion complications, including algorithms for more common complications and descriptions of less common but more severe adverse events. The article concludes with a recognition of the social stigma and legal regulations unique to abortion care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - William E Soares
- University of Massachusetts Medical School at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA
| | - Kathleen A Kerrigan
- University of Massachusetts Medical School at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA
| | - Matthew L Zerden
- Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, Chapel Hill, and WakeMed Health & Hospitals, Raleigh, NC
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3
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Rouse CE, Eckert LO, Muñoz FM, Stringer JSA, Kochhar S, Bartlett L, Sanicas M, Dudley DJ, Harper DM, Bittaye M, Meller L, Jehan F, Maltezou HC, Šubelj M, Bardaji A, Kachikis A, Beigi R, Gravett MG. Postpartum endometritis and infection following incomplete or complete abortion: Case definition & guidelines for data collection, analysis, and presentation of maternal immunization safety data. Vaccine 2019; 37:7585-7595. [PMID: 31783980 PMCID: PMC6891249 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.09.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C E Rouse
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - L O Eckert
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - F M Muñoz
- Department of Pediatrics, Section on Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - J S A Stringer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - S Kochhar
- Global Healthcare Consulting; University of Washington, Seattle, USA; Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - L Bartlett
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - M Sanicas
- Sanofi Pasteur, Asia and JPAC Region, Singapore
| | - D J Dudley
- University of Virginia, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - D M Harper
- University of Michigan, Departments of Family Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Epidemiology, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - M Bittaye
- Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital/University of The Gambia and Medical Research Council, The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, USA
| | - L Meller
- Safety & Pharmacovigilance, Syneos Health, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - F Jehan
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - H C Maltezou
- Department for Interventions in Healthcare Facilities, Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
| | - M Šubelj
- National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - A Bardaji
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Kachikis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - R Beigi
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - M G Gravett
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Abstract
Worldwide, abortion accounts for approximately 14% of pregnancy-related deaths, and septic abortion is a major cause of the deaths from abortion. Today, septic abortion is an uncommon event in the United States. The most critical treatment of septic abortion remains the prompt removal of infected tissue. Antibiotic administration and fluid resuscitation provide necessary secondary levels of treatment. Most young physicians have never treated septic abortion. Many obstetrician-gynecologists experience, or plan to experience, global health activities and will likely care for women with septic abortion. Thus, updated knowledge of the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, microbes, and proper treatment is needed to optimally treat this emergency condition when it exists. The pathophysiology of septic abortion involves infection of the placenta, especially the maternal villous space that leads to a high frequency of bacteremia. Symptoms and signs range from mild to severe. The microbes involved are usually common vaginal bacteria, including anaerobes, but occasionally potentially very serious and lethal infection is caused by bacteria that produce toxins. The primary treatment is early curettage to remove infected and devitalized tissue even in the face of continued fetal heart tones. Important secondary treatments are the administration of fluids and antibiotics. Updated references of sepsis and septic shock are reviewed.
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Roncari D, Politch JA, Sonalkar S, Finneseth M, Borgatta L. Inflammation or infection at the time of second trimester induced abortion. Contraception 2013; 87:67-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2012.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2012] [Revised: 08/21/2012] [Accepted: 09/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Thorp JM. Public Health Impact of Legal Termination of Pregnancy in the US: 40 Years Later. SCIENTIFICA 2012; 2012:980812. [PMID: 24278765 PMCID: PMC3820464 DOI: 10.6064/2012/980812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2012] [Accepted: 10/15/2012] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
During the 40 years since the US Supreme Court decision in Doe versus Wade and Doe versus Bolton, restrictions on termination of pregnancy (TOP) were overturned nationwide. The use of TOP was much wider than predicted and a substantial fraction of reproductive age women in the U.S. have had one or more TOPs and that widespread uptake makes the downstream impact of any possible harms have broad public health implications. While short-term harms do not appear to be excessive, from a public perspective longer term harm is conceiving, and clearly more study of particular relevance concerns the associations of TOP with subsequent preterm birth and mental health problems. Clearly more research is needed to quantify the magnitude of risk and accurately inform women with the crisis of unintended pregnancy considering TOP. The current US data-gathering mechanisms are inadequate for this important task.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M. Thorp
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Gravett CA, Gravett MG, Martin ET, Bernson JD, Khan S, Boyle DS, Lannon SMR, Patterson J, Rubens CE, Steele MS. Serious and life-threatening pregnancy-related infections: opportunities to reduce the global burden. PLoS Med 2012; 9:e1001324. [PMID: 23055837 PMCID: PMC3467240 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Michael Gravett and colleagues review the burden of pregnancy-related infections, especially in low- and middle-income countries, and offer suggestions for a more effective intervention strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney A Gravett
- Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA.
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