Possible risks and complications of surgical abortion

The article is expertly consulted by Master, Doctor Le Nhat Nguyen - Obstetrician-Gynecology Specialist - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

Abortion is a method used to end a woman's pregnancy. Depending on the age of the fetus, the obstetrician will have indications to apply the appropriate abortion method for the mother.

A surgical abortion is an abortion using an instrument inserted through a woman's cervix for the purpose of terminating a pregnancy.
For safe abortion, the choice of abortion method should be based on the age of the fetus, the older the gestational age, the more difficult the procedure will be. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully consider and consult a doctor to take care of your reproductive health and prepare yourself mentally.

The surgical abortion method consists of two main techniques: vacuum aspiration (VA) and dilation and extraction (D&E).
2.1. Vacuum aspiration (VA) The doctor will use a specialized vacuum tube to suck the fetus out and terminate the pregnancy.
2.2. Dilation and Expansion (D&E) The fetus is removed after using medical instruments to dilate the fetus. Selection of procedures for abortion based on gestational age include:
Pregnancy in the period of 6-12 weeks of amenorrhea: can be aborted by vacuum, by hand and by machine. Pregnancy in the period of more than 12 weeks to the end of the 18th week: use dilatation and grasping techniques.

In order to carefully prepare for surgical abortion, the doctor needs to take the mother's history, perform physical examination and perform laboratory techniques to consider issues related to contraindications to the procedure. Surgical abortion , including:
There is an old surgical scar in the uterine body. Current pregnant women have acute medical diseases. Pregnant women who are suffering from acute genital tract infections need to be treated promptly. Women with a history of allergy to misoprostol. The woman has uterine malformations, uterine fibroids or old surgical scars in the lower part of the uterus.

Not only complications after medical abortion, complications of surgical abortion are diverse and depend on different surgical abortion methods as follows:
4.1. Complications of Vacuum Abortion Early Complications
Vaginal bleeding or blood stasis in the uterus due to a large fetus or a pasty uterus from multiple births. Cervical tear. Uterine perforation due to abnormal uterine position. Late complications
Placental defect and stillbirth present with symptoms such as abdominal pain, foul-smelling bleeding, fever, and chills. Infection. Menorrhagia. Uterine adhesions. Amenorrhea. Emotional inhibition. Ectopic pregnancy . Infertility.

4.2. Complications of abortion dilatation and removal Heavy bleeding, acute blood loss. Prolonged bleeding. Tired body. Infection. Uterine perforation. Shock may also occur. In addition, the anesthetic and anesthetic measures during surgical abortion can also cause complications such as drug-induced shock, pain-induced shock, convulsions or cardiac arrest.
Surgical abortion or medical abortion both have certain risks and complications, so women of childbearing age who have sex should choose safe methods of contraception to avoid pregnancy. intention to have an abortion. After an abortion, it is also necessary to have appropriate contraceptive measures, nutritional supplements and spiritual encouragement for the woman.
Doctor Le Nhat Nguyen has more than 20 years of experience in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Formerly a doctor of obstetrics and gynecology at Gia Dinh People's Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. BS has high expertise and strength in the diagnosis and treatment of Obstetrics and Gynecology diseases. Currently a Doctor of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec International Hospital Da Nang.