RESUMO
PIP: Induced abortion has been legal in New York State since 1970. In 1978 there were 1,540,000 legal abortions in the U.S.; more than half of the abortions take place within the 8th week of pregnancy; 75% of abortions are done on an outpatient basis, most of them not in large hospitals, but in free standing clinics. 30% of abortions are done under general anesthesia and require about 3 hours of hospitalization. 70% are done under local anesthesia, usually paracervical block, and require about 2 hours of hospitalization. Most women requesting abortions are between 19-24, nulliparous, and between the 7-10 week of gestation. Dilatation is usually done with Pratt dilators and evacuation by curettage. Between 1972-78 a total of 6,311,000 abortions were performed within the 1st 12 weeks; the mortality rate was 0.8/100,000. Probability of mortality is not only minimal between the 1st-8th week, but is the same whether the abortion is done in a hospital or an outpatient clinic. Rates of serious complications range from 0.3% for the 1st 6 weeks to 0.8% from the 11-12th week. Rates for serious and minor complications taken together are 7.8%. Serious complications occur more frequently in patients under total anesthesia, especially cervical laceration and hemorrhage. Induced abortion does not increase the risk of secondary sterility. Between the 12th-17th week, abortion is usually done by dilatation and evacuation, and after the 17th week by drug infusion.^ieng