Major complications associated with termination of a second trimester pregnancy: a case report

Dilation and evacuation is the most common and safest means of pregnancy termination during the first and early second trimesters. The major complication is uterine perforation. This can lead to significant sequela including hemorrhage, infection, and embolism. This case illustrates how these complications present and how they can be effectively controlled with aggressive medical and surgical management. As long as the procedure is done in a setting where these problems can be addressed, dilation and evacuation remain the method of choice for first and early second trimester terminations.