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In 1980, approximately 100,000 women underwent abortion by dilatation and evacuation between 13 and 24 weeks' gestation; an estimated 500 women experienced serious complications. The comparative safety of local versus general anesthesia for second-trimester dilatation and evacuation is unknown. To compare the serious complications (hemorrhage requiring transfusion, unintended major surgery, and a temperature of greater than or equal to 38 C for greater than three days), 4147 women who received general anesthesia and 5389 women who received local anesthesia at 13 centers in the United States from 1975 to 1978 were studied. Women who had a dilatation and evacuation abortion under general anesthesia had a relative risk of serious complications of 2.6 (95% confidence interval 1.4 to 4.9) compared with women who underwent dilatation and evacuation abortion under local anesthesia. Local anesthesia for second-trimester dilatation and evacuation appears to be both safer and less expensive than general anesthesia.
H T MacKay, and
K F Schulz, and
D A Grimes
December 1986,
Obstetrics and gynecology,
H T MacKay, and
K F Schulz, and
D A Grimes
August 1985,
Lancet (London, England),
H T MacKay, and
K F Schulz, and
D A Grimes
August 1983,
Obstetrics and gynecology,
H T MacKay, and
K F Schulz, and
D A Grimes
October 1981,
Obstetrics and gynecology,
H T MacKay, and
K F Schulz, and
D A Grimes
February 2012,
Contraception,
H T MacKay, and
K F Schulz, and
D A Grimes
June 2009,
Contraception,
H T MacKay, and
K F Schulz, and
D A Grimes
January 2012,
Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica,
H T MacKay, and
K F Schulz, and
D A Grimes
March 2002,
The Journal of reproductive medicine,
H T MacKay, and
K F Schulz, and
D A Grimes
September 2017,
International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics,
H T MacKay, and
K F Schulz, and
D A Grimes
May 2000,
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology,
