Complications of abortion performed under local anesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of complications of abortion performed under local anesthesia.

DESIGN: Prospective study.

SETTING: A family planning center in the Paris area.

POPULATION: Eight hundred and fifty-eight women admitted for abortion under local anesthesia.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of immediate (the day of vacuum aspiration) and delayed complications (at the follow-up visit 2 weeks after the procedure).

RESULTS: Among the 858 women who underwent vacuum aspiration, 683 (80%) attended the follow-up visit 2 weeks after the procedure. Fifty-nine percent of the 858 women had not had a previous abortion, 25% had had one, and 16% had had two or more. The average duration of amenorrhea was 8.6 weeks (19% at 6 or 7 weeks, 67% between 8 and 10 weeks, and 14% after 10 weeks). The overall complication rate was 3.4% (23/683) (95% CI=2.0-4.8%). The incidence of immediate complications was 1.7% (15/858) (0.8-2.6%) and that of delayed complications 1.2% (8/683) (0.4-2.0%).

CONCLUSION: This study confirms the safety and efficacy of abortion by vacuum aspiration under local anesthesia.