Delayed presentation of uterine perforation.

Abstract

A 30-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with nonspecific abdominal pain 17 days after voluntary vacuum aspiration interruption of a first-trimester pregnancy. Physical examination and laboratory evaluation demonstrated mild diffuse abdominal tenderness without peritoneal signs and a mildly increased WBC count, respectively. When the patient's condition failed to improve she was admitted, and exploratory laparotomy was performed 5 days later. It revealed two uterine perforations, one of which contained incarcerated omentum with associated ischemic small bowel and complete small-bowel obstruction. Although uterine perforation with intraabdominal injury is a well-described complication of vacuum aspiration termination of pregnancy, most postabortion perforations go undetected. Delayed presentation of an acute complication is rarely observed.

• Authors: E C Leibner
• Journal: Annals of emergency medicine (Ann Emerg Med) Vol. 26 Issue 5 Pg. 643-6 (Nov 1995) ISSN: 0196-0644 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7486376 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Abortion, Induced (adverse effects)
• Adult
• Emergency Service, Hospital
• Female
• Humans
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Trimester, First
• Time Factors
• Uterine Perforation (diagnosis, etiology, surgery)
• Vacuum Curettage (adverse effects)