Therapeutic abortion in Siriraj Hospital: A 10-year review

Objective: To assess indications, methods of interventions and gestational age of women underwent therapeutic abortion. Method: A total of 1381 cases of pregnant women underwent therapeutic abortion with completed charts between 1 January, 2001 to 31 December, 2010, were enrolled in this study. The patient data including demographic data, gestational age of abortion, methods of abortion, dosage of cytotec usage, indications of abortion and length of hospital stay were recorded. RESULT: Mean maternal age, gestational age of abortion and abortus weight were 29.56 ± 7.09 years, 17.54 ± 6.05 weeks of gestation and 401.27 ± 269.49 grams, respectively. Induced abortion with cytotec and syntocinon was mostly (28.3%) and rarely used (1.3%), respectively. Dosage of cytotec usage of 400 micrograms every 6 hours regimen was mostly used (53.1%). Indications of therapeutic abortion were maternal HIV infection (18.5%), fetal structural abnormalities (17.7%) and dead fetus in utero (19.3%) and were found. Curettage alone was mostly performed in the indicated patients with gestational age of 9.07 ± 2.85 weeks. Medical cytotec and syntocinon alone were mostly performed in the indicated patients with gestational age of 19.51 ± 4.55 and 23.94 ± 4.67 weeks, respectively. Tubal sterilization and the length of hospital stay were higher in the group of therapeutic abortion with maternal indication. Therapeutic abortion by hysterotomy had higher length of hospital stay than those with curettage method. Conclusion: Indications of therapeutic abortion were mostly from maternal HIV infection, fetal structural abnormalities and dead fetus in utero. Medical and surgical interventions were mostly applied during mid and early gestation, respectively.