Severe Intraabdominal Trauma In Illegal Abortion: A Case Report

Abstract

Unsafe abortion represents a preventable yet major cause for maternal mortality in India. A majority of these abortions are performed confidentially. Complications occur in a large portion of these cases and ultimately require tertiary care. Intestinal perforation is a rare complication of induced abortion but it is not rare in our country. It is most commonly seen in countries where abortions are performed by people with sharp pointed instruments, without proper training and knowledge of anatomy. Bowel perforation occurs when the posterior vaginal wall or uterus is violated, allowing the instrument to pierce the underlying structures. Here we discuss case of a woman who sustained injury to small bowel with a long mesenteric tear, rectal transection and tear of the urinary bladder.