Comparison of condition specific indicators among illegal induced abortion: septic and non-septic abortion in Songkla Center Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the clinical indications of illegal induced abortion, comparison between septic and non-septic abortion.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: The present retrospective descriptive study was conducted among pregnant women who were admitted in the hospital with the illegal induced abortion. The demographic data, gestational age, the method used, and personnel performing were gathered, as well as symptomatology, basic laboratory, condition progression, and medical and surgical intervention.

RESULTS: There were 92 patients with illegal induced abortion between March 2009 and December 2010. The three main induced methods for termination of pregnancy was vaginal suppository, likely to be misoprostol-a synthetic prostaglandin E, analog (43.5%), oral Thai herbal medicine (19.6%) and combined medication (16.3%), respectively. Of septic/non-septic abortion, the first visit body temperature of 38.0 degrees Celsius or more (74.1/12.3%), heart rate of 100 per minutes or more (74.1/12.3%), fever index 3 degree-hours or more in the first 24 hours (81.5/12.3%) and fever index 5 degree-hours or more in the first 24 hours (59.3/1.5%), were statistically significant (all p-values of < 0.001). Overall, the most common type of termination of induced abortion was incomplete abortion 68 in 92 cases (73.9%).

CONCLUSION: The first visit body temperature of 38.0 degrees C or more, heart rate of 100 per minutes or more and fever index of 3 and 5 degree-hours, are clinically helpful in the early diagnosis and treatment of septic abortion.