International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics : the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics
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Int J Gynaecol Obstet · Mar 1980
Bowel injury in septic abortion: the need for more aggressive management.
An analysis of bowel injury in cases of septic abortion treated over a six-year period at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital at Enugu is presented. Seventy-three percent (11/15) of the patients who underwent laparotomy had concomitant injury to the bowels. Overall, 16.4% of the 67 patients with septic abortion had intestinal injuries (this does not include the patients who died as a result of fulminating peritonitis before surgery could be performed). ⋯ When a dysfunctioning colostomy was raised, the mortality was nil. In patients who had simple closure of the perforation and in those who had primary resection and anastomosis, mortality was 66.6%. The importance of performing laparotomy much sooner than usual is discussed.