Therapeutic abortion. The 1975 report from Ullevål Hospital

The results from a prospective study of 1228 therapeutic abortions (the 1975 material) are reported. First trimester pregnancies (1028 cases) were terminated by suction and curettage and second trimester pregnancies by prostaglandins (200 cases). The overall follow-up (4-6 weeks after termination) was 94.3%. The incidence of perforation was 0.5% of the surgical terminations, none of which, however, resulted in any other complications. The mean incidence of re-admission was 3.9%, the main causes being retained products or pelvic infection. The mean incidence of pelvic infection (salpingitis/parametritis) was 1.6%. The highest incidence of pelvic infection was found in early pregnancies (less than 8 weeks) or nulliparous women (2.7%) and the lowest (1.5%) in the induction group.