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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?
Published on: June 6, 2020
The intraoperative complication rate of nonobstetric dilation and curettage
Lukas Hefler1, Andrea Lemach, Veronika Seebacher
1From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Objective:
To evaluate the intraoperative complication rate of nonobstetric dilation and curettage (D&C) in a large series of consecutive patients.
Methods:
In this retrospective study, 5,359 nonobstetric D&Cs performed in 2,542 premenopausal and 2,817 postmenopausal patients between October 1995 and December 2006 were evaluated. Intraoperative procedure-associated complication rate and identification of risk factors for the occurrence of complications were the main outcome measures. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed.
Results:
A total of 103 (1.9%) intraoperative complications were noted. Uterine perforation occurred in 50 cases (0.9%) (perforation site: fundus, n=47; cervix, n=3). Forty-two (0.8%) cases of false passage, seven cases (0.1%) with severe hemorrhage, three cases of vaginal laceration, and one case of cervical laceration were noted. In a multivariable analysis, retroversion of the uterus (P=.008), postmenopausal status (P=.003), and nulliparity (P=.03) were significantly associated with occurrence of intraoperative complications.
Conclusion:
The overall complication rate of D&C is low. A retroverted uterus, postmenopausal status, and nulliparity are independent risk factors for intraoperative complications.
Level Of Evidence:
III.
