Abortion Complications Follow-up

  • Author: Slava V Gaufberg, MD; Chief Editor: Pamela L Dyne, MD   more...
 
Updated: Feb 5, 2010
 

Further Inpatient Care

  • Inpatient treatment of patients with abortion complications includes repeat D&C, laparoscopy, and laparotomy (for treatment of complicated perforation, bowel and bladder injuries, refractory bleeding).
  • Further inpatient care for patients with septic abortion include the following:
    • Perform a prompt evacuation of retained products of conception from the uterus.
    • Administer aggressive antibiotic therapy.
    • Monitor the patient's temperature, vaginal discharge, and bleeding.
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Further Outpatient Care

  • If the patient is discharged from the ED, arrange definite follow-up care in 1-2 days with the patient's primary gynecologist.
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Deterrence/Prevention

  • Educate patients about contraceptive measures to deter them from using abortion as a means of birth control.
  • Deterrence and prevention of septic abortion include the following:
    • Contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies
    • Safe and legal abortions
    • Easy access to prenatal care
    • Prompt diagnosis of septic abortion
    • Timely treatment with intravenous antibiotics
    • Prompt evacuation of retained tissue from the uterus
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Complications

Complications of septic abortion may include the following:

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Patient Education

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Slava V Gaufberg, MD  Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Director of Transitional Residency Training Program, Cambridge Health Alliance

Slava V Gaufberg, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Roy Alson, MD, PhD, FACEP, FAAEM  Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine; Medical Director, Forsyth County EMS; Deputy Medical Advisor, North Carolina Office of EMS; Associate Medical Director, North Carolina Baptist AirCare

Roy Alson, MD, PhD, FACEP, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: Air Medical Physician Association, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, National Association of EMS Physicians, North Carolina Medical Society, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Mark Zwanger, MD, MBA  Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University

Mark Zwanger, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Pamela L Dyne, MD  Professor of Clinical Medicine/Emergency Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine; Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center

Pamela L Dyne, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  2. Pazol K, Gamble SB, Parker WY, Cook DA, Zane SB, Hamdan S. Abortion surveillance - United States, 2006. MMWR Surveill Summ. Nov 27 2009;58(8):1-35. [Medline].

  3. McKenna T, O'Brien K. Case report: group B streptococcal bacteremia and sacroiliitis after mid-trimester dilation and evacuation. J Perinatol. Sep 2009;29(9):643-5. [Medline].

  4. Daif JL, Levie M, Chudnoff S, Kaiser B, Shahabi S. Group a Streptococcus causing necrotizing fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome after medical termination of pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. Feb 2009;113(2 Pt 2):504-6. [Medline].

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  16. Stuart GS, Sheffield JS, Hill JB, McIntire DD, McElwee B, Wendel GD. Morbidity that is associated with curettage for the management of spontaneous and induced abortion in women who are infected with HIV. Am J Obstet Gynecol. Sep 2004;191(3):993-7. [Medline].

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  19. Stubblefield PG, Grimes DA. Septic abortion. N Engl J Med. Aug 4 1994;331(5):310-4. [Medline].

 
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