Early abortion in family medicine: clinical outcomes - PubMed (original) (raw)

Early abortion in family medicine: clinical outcomes

Ian M Bennett et al. Ann Fam Med. 2009 Nov-Dec.

Erratum in

Abstract

Purpose: Clinical innovations have made it more feasible to incorporate early abortion into family medicine, yet the outcomes of early abortion procedures in this setting have not been well studied. We wished to assess the outcomes of first-trimester medication and aspiration abortion procedures by family physicians.

Methods: Prospective observational cohort study conducted from August 2001 to February 2005 of 2,550 women who sought pregnancy termination in 4 clinical practices of family medicine departments and 1 private office/training site.

Results: The rate of successful uncomplicated procedures for medication was 96.5% (95.5%-97.1% [corrected] confidence interval [CI], 95.5%-97.0%) and for aspiration was 99.9% (CI, 99.3%-1). Adverse events and complications of medication abortions were failed procedure (ongoing pregnancy; n = 19, 1.45%); incomplete abortion (n = 16, 1.22%); hemorrhage (n = 9, 0.69%); and patient request for aspiration (n = 1, 0.08%). One (0.08%) missed ectopic pregnancy was seen among patients receiving medication. Four types of adverse outcomes were encountered with aspiration: incomplete abortion requiring re-aspiration (n = 21, 1.83%); hemorrhage during the procedure (n = 4, 0.35%); missed ectopic pregnancy (n = 3, 0.26%); and minor endometritis (n = 1, 0.09%). Missed ectopic pregnancies were successfully treated in the inpatient setting without mortality (overall hospitalization rate of 0.16 of 100). All other complications were managed within outpatient family medicine sites. Rates of complication did not vary by experience of physician or by site of care (residency vs private practice).

Conclusions: Complications of medication and aspiration procedures occurred at a low rate, and most were minor and managed without incident.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Hakim-Elahi E, Tovell HM, Burnhill MS. Complications of first-trimester abortion: a report of 170,000 cases. Obstet Gynecol. 1990;76(1):129–135. - PubMed
    1. Strauss LT, Herndon J, Chang J, Parker WY, Bowens SV, Berg CJ. Abortion surveillance—United States, 2002. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2005;54(7):1–31. - PubMed
    1. Finer LB, Henshaw SK. Abortion incidence and services in the United States in 2000. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2003;35(1):6–15. - PubMed
    1. Henshaw SK, Finer LB. The accessibility of abortion services in the United States, 2001. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2003;35(1):16–24. - PubMed
    1. Lesnewski R, Prine L, Gold M. New research abortion training as an integral part of residency training. Fam Med. 2003;35(6):386–387. - PubMed

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources