Critical illnesses and deaths associated with intrauterine devices.

Abstract

The 8506 Fellows of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists were mailed a survey in June 1967 to gather data on both critical illnesses and deaths from pelvic inflammatory disease and complications of uterine perforations in association with IUD use in the United States U.S. Armed Forces areas Puerto Rico and Canada. Within less than 3 months 6449 (75.8%) of the questionnaires had been returned. Among the 10 deaths reported (in addition to 1 possible and 1 probable) 2 were the result to septicemia and septic emboli 6 and 17 days after insertion. 2 death (6 and 25 days following insertion) were the result of pelvic inflammatory disease peritonitis and complications. These 4 deaths were quite probably related to the IUD. The role of the device is much more questionnable in the 3 cases of pelvic inflammatory disease and infection 1 1/2 2 1/2 and 24 months after insertion. Only a conjectural relationship may be established between the 2 deaths from amniotic fluid embolism following second trimester delivery and coexisting uterine perforations by the device. 1 reported death is probably irrelevant. 561 cases of critical illness without death were reported; 369 from inflammation and 192 from complications of perforations. Many cases of pelvic inflammation would probably have occurred without the device.