AN ANALYSIS OF SURGICALLY MANAGED CASES OF PELVIC ABSCESS COMPLICATING UNSAFE ABORTION

Authors

  • GA Adebiyi desiyun
  • Charles Ameh

Abstract

Background: This study was carried out to study the demographic variables, treatment optionsand mortality in cases of abortion related pelvic abscess. Methods: A retrospective study ofpatients that had pelvic abscess as a complication of unsafe abortion. The retrieved case files werescrutinized for the necessary information. Result: The age ranged from thirteen years to forty sixyears, and teenagers accounted for 24.3% of the patients. About half of the patients, 51.4% werechildless and parity ranged from zero to eight. The abortionists were mainly untrained personneland the contraceptive prevalence rate was low, 5.4%. Most of the patient had conservative surgeryand a significant number 94.6%, had blood transfusion. Maternal death of 18.9% was recordedwith infection being the major cause. Conclusion: Unsafe abortion and its attendant complicationis still a problem in Nigeria. High quality post abortion care will help a long way in saving manylives.Key words: Unsafe abortion, Induced abortion, Pelvic abscess, Conservative surgery.

References

World Health Organization. Complications of abortion

technical and managerial guidelines for prevention and

treatment. Geneva: WHO. 1995.World Health Organization. The prevention and management

of unsafe abortion. Report of a technical working group.

WHOMSM92.5. Geneva: WHO, 2003.

Henshaw SK, Singh S, Oye-Adeniran BA, Adewole IF,

Iwere N, Cuca YP. The incidence of induced abortion in

Nigeria. Inter Fam Plann Persp 1998; 24(4):

Starrs A. The safe motherhood action agenda: Priorities for

the next decade. Washington DC. Family Care International

; 56.

Ransom EI, Yinger NV. Making motherhood safe:

Overcoming obstacles on the pathway to care. Population

reference Bureau. 2002; 8.

Unsafe Abortion: A major public health problem. Safe

motherhood. 2000; 28(1): 4.

World Health Organization. Unsafe abortion. Reproductive

health strategy: To accelerate progress towards the attainment

of international development goals and targets.

WHO/RHR/04.8:14.

Agadjanian V. “Quasi – Legal” abortion services in a SubSaharan setting: Users profile and motivations. InternationalFamily Planning Perspective 1998; 24(3):111-6.10. Ahmed mk, Rahman m, Ginneken JV. Induced abortion in

Matlab, Bangladesh: Trends and determinants. International

Family Planning Perspective. 1998: 24(3): 128 – 132.

Caldwell J, Cladwell P. Marital status and abortion in SubSaharan Africa. In: Nuptiality in Sub-Saharan Africa. Eds

Bledsoe C and Pison G. Oxford, UK. Clarendon Press. 1994:

– 25.12. Emuveyan EE, Agboghoroma OC. Trends in abortion related

maternal mortality in Lagos, Nigeria. Trop J Obstet Gynaecol

;14(1):39 – 41.

Protopapas AG, Diakomanolis, Milingos SD, Rodolakis AJ,

Markaki SN, Vlachos GD et al. Tubo-ovarian abscesses in

postmenopausal women: Gynecological malignancy until

proven otherwise? Europ J Obstet Gynaecol and Reprod Biol.

; 144: 203-9.

Slap GB, Forke CM, Cnaan A, Bellah RD, Kreider ME,

Hanissian JA et al. Recognition of tubo-ovarian abscess in

adolescent with pelvic inflammatory disease. J Adolescent

Health. 1996; 18: 397 – 403.15. Hassaan M, Tamara T, Habib S. Conservative vs radical

management in pelvic abscess. Int J of Gynaecol Obstet

; 70(2): B40.16. Mirhashemi R, Wolfgang M, Schoell J, Estape R, Angiolo R,

Averette HE. Trends in the management of pelvic abscess. J

Am Coll Surg. 1999; 188(5): 567-72.

Kaplan AL, Jacobs WM, Ehresman JB. Aggressive management of pelvic abscess. Am J Obstet Gynaecol 1967; 98: 482

-7.

Liljestrand J, Gryboski K. Maternal mortality as a human

right issue. In: Reproductive Health and Rights. PATH and

the Women Reproductive Health Initiative. Washington DC.