Late abortion practice in a teaching hospital in India

The medical records of 2055 patients undergoing late abortions were reviewed. These represented 15% of all abortions induced over 10 years. In 52%, abortion was performed between 13-16 weeks, and in 25% at or after 20 weeks. Abortion was requested for risk to health in 55% and for failed contraception in 40%. Surgical techniques were used in 39%. There was a trend to use vaginal surgical procedures increasingly, and intraamniotic saline decreasingly. Extraamniotic ethacridine lactate was used in 12%. Because of the cost, prostaglandin infusions were restricted to 2.5%. Planned evacuation of retained products following a medical procedure was performed in 71%; concomitant sterilization in 24%. The complication rate settled at 11% of which 4% were retained products of conception. Complications increased overall with advancing gestational age, and particularly from 15 weeks onward with vacuum aspiration (p0.05) and with dilatation and curettage (p0.05). Cervical injury increased with advancing gestation (p=0.01). In developing nations, there is a pressing need to educate illiterate women to request abortion earlier.