Elective abortion. Complications seen in a free-standing clinic.

Experience is reported with the elective first trimester abortion of 16,410 pregnancies during a 31-month period by Reproductive Health Services of St. Louis, a free-standing clinic. Incidence of complications was 1.54%. The most common of these were incomplete evacuation, excessive postabortal bleeding, and uterine perforation. In patients with unquestioned perforation, the use of laparoscopy has been very valuable in ascertaining the exact nature of the perforation, in avoiding unnecessary laparotomy, and in giving intraabdominal visual guidance to concomitant suction evacuation in cases of an incomplete procedure. Aspects of the other complications are also discussed. In general, the findings support the view that even in the first trimester, the earlier in pregnancy that suction abortion is performed, the less likely it is to result in major complications. It is possible to perform first trimester abortions in a free-standing clinic with a satisfactorily low complication rate.