Especificidades técnicas no tamponamento uterino com balões e algumas dificuldades técnicas / Technical specificities in uterine tamponade with balloons and some technical difficulties

A mortalidade materna é inaceitavelmente alta. A hemorragia pós-parto encontra- se na primeira posição no mundo, tendo como principal causa específica a atonia uterina. Eventualmente, as medidas iniciais e a terapia farmacológica não são efetivas no controle do sangramento, impondo a necessidade de tratamentos invasivos, cirúrgicos ou não. Entre esses, o tamponamento uterino com balão requer recursos locais mínimos e não exige treinamento extensivo ou equipamento muito complexo. Entretanto, algumas dificuldades podem ocorrer durante a inserção, infusão ou manutenção do balão na cavidade uterina, com especificidades relacionadas à via de parto. Após o parto vaginal, a dificuldade mais prevalente é o prolapso vaginal do balão. Na cesárea, as principais dificuldades são a inserção e o posicionamento do balão na cavidade uterina, principalmente nas cesáreas eletivas. Este artigo revisa e ilustra as principais dificuldades e especificidades relacionadas ao tamponamento uterino com balões.

Maternal mortality is unacceptably high. Postpartum hemorrhage is ranked first in the world, with the main specific cause being uterine atony. Eventually, initial measures and pharmacological therapy are not effective in controlling bleeding, imposing the need for invasive treatments, surgical or not. Among these, uterine balloon tamponade requires minimal local resources and does not require extensive training or very complex equipment. However, some difficulties may occur during insertion, infusion, or maintenance of the balloon in the uterine cavity, with specificities related to the mode of delivery. After vaginal delivery, the most prevalent difficulty is vaginal balloon prolapse. In cesarean section, the main difficulty is the insertion and positioning of the balloon in the uterine cavity, especially in elective cesarean sections. This article reviews and illustrates the main difficulties and specificities related to uterine balloon tamponade.

WHO guideline for screening and treatment of cervical pre-cancer lesions for cervical cancer prevention, 2nd ed

Cervical cancer is a leading cause of mortality among women. In 2020, an estimated 604 000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide and about 342 000 women died from the disease. Cervical cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in 23 countries and is the leading cause of cancer death in 36 countries. The vast majority of these countries are in sub-Saharan Africa, Melanesia, South America, and South-Eastern Asia. In May 2018, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, issued a call to action for the elimination of cervical cancer. In November 2020, the Director-General launched the Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer, including the following targets for each of the three pillars for 2030: 90% human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage of eligible girls, 70% screening coverage with a high-performance test and 90% of women with a positive screening test or a cervical lesion managed appropriately. Following the launch of the global strategy, a large panel of experts met to define the key areas of focus to increase access to screening and treatment to reach the 2030 targets. One of the agreed areas of focus was to update the existing WHO recommendations for screening and treatment to prevent cervical cancer, and to simplify the algorithms.

Homelessness, housing instability, and abortion outcomes at an urban abortion clinic in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Adverse reproductive health outcomes are well documented among people experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Little is known about abortion outcomes among this population. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between housing status and abortion outcomes and whether gestational age mediates this relationship. STUDY DESIGN: Our sample comprised 1903 individuals who had abortions at an urban clinic in San Francisco, CA, from 2015 to 2017. We defined homelessness or housing instability as a binary exposure, which included staying outside, with friends and/or family, or in a tent, vehicle, shelter, transitional program, or hotel. We evaluated gestational duration of ≥20 weeks as a mediator variable. Our primary outcome was any abortion complication. Logistic regression models were adjusted for age, race, substance use, mental health diagnoses, and previous vaginal and cesarean deliveries. RESULTS: Approximately 19% (n=356) of abortions were among people experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Compared with those with stable housing, people experiencing homelessness or housing instability presented later in pregnancy (mean gestational duration, 13.3 vs 9.5 weeks; P<.001) and had more frequent complications (6.5% vs 2.8%; P<.001; odds ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-3.9). Adjusting for race, substance use, mental health diagnoses, and previous cesarean deliveries, individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability were more likely to have abortion complications (odds ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-4.0). However, the relationship was attenuated after adjusting for gestational duration (odds ratio, 1.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-2.6), suggesting that gestational duration mediates the relationship between housing status and abortion complications. CONCLUSION: Patients experiencing homelessness or housing instability presented later in gestation, which seems to contribute to the increased frequency of abortion complications.

Term Labor Outcomes after Cerclage Placement in a Multi-institutional Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: The placement of a cervical cerclage in early pregnancy could influence subsequent labor outcomes at term. Prior studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the potential association with adverse labor outcomes such as cesarean delivery (CD), cervical laceration, and prolonged labor. Our objective was to evaluate rate of CD and adverse maternal outcomes in women who labored at term with and without a cerclage within the Consortium on Safe Labor (CSL) cohort. We hypothesize that women with a cerclage in the incident pregnancy will have an increased frequency of CD and other adverse term labor outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study was performed using data from the CSL. Women with live nonanomalous singleton gestations≥ 37 weeks with induced or spontaneous labor were identified. The risk of CD and other maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared between women with and without cerclage placement during pregnancy. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed with adjustment for confounding factors. Planned subgroup analysis by history of CD was performed. RESULTS: A total of 374 of the 147,463 patients who met study inclusion criteria in the CSL (0.25%) had a cerclage. In univariable analysis, cerclage placement was associated with a significant increase in the frequency of CD (17.1 vs. 12.8%, p = 0.016, odds ratio: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.07-1.84), cervical lacerations, infectious morbidity, and blood loss. The association with CD persisted in multivariable regression. Cerclage placement was not associated with an increased risk of neonatal morbidity. CONCLUSION: Cerclage placement in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of CD, cervical laceration, and infectious morbidity among women delivering at term. These findings suggest that cerclage placement may impact labor progression and outcomes. However, the magnitude of the association may not alter clinical decisions regarding cerclage placement in appropriate candidates.

Cervical epithelial damage promotes Ureaplasma parvum ascending infection, intrauterine inflammation and preterm birth induction in mice.

Around 40% of preterm births are attributed to ascending intrauterine infection, and Ureaplasma parvum (UP) is commonly isolated in these cases. Here we present a mouse model of ascending UP infection that resembles human disease, using vaginal inoculation combined with mild cervical injury induced by a common spermicide (Nonoxynol-9, as a surrogate for any mechanism of cervical epithelial damage). We measure bacterial load in a non-invasive manner using a luciferase-expressing UP strain, and post-mortem by qPCR and bacterial titration. Cervical exposure to Nonoxynol-9, 24 h pre-inoculation, facilitates intrauterine UP infection, upregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increases preterm birth rates from 13 to 28%. Our results highlight the crucial role of the cervical epithelium as a barrier against ascending infection. In addition, we expect the mouse model will facilitate further research on the potential links between UP infection and preterm birth.

Intrapartum cervical lacerations and their impact on future pregnancy outcome.

Objective: To investigate the significance of intrapartum cervical lacerations on subsequent pregnancies.Study design: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted, comparing outcomes of subsequent singleton pregnancies, in women with and without a history of cervical lacerations in a previous delivery. Deliveries occurred between the years 1991-2014 at the Soroka University Medical Center. Multiple logistic regression models were constructed to control for clinically significant confounders.Results: During the study period 187,162 deliveries met the inclusion criteria. Of them, 429 (0.2%) occurred in women with a history of cervical lacerations in the previous pregnancy (study group). The study group exhibited significantly higher rates of recurrent cervical lacerations (21/429, 4.9% versus 275/187 162,0.1%, p value = .001), cerclage (13/429, 3% versus 260/187 162, 0.1% p value = .001), cervical incompetence (8/429, 1.9% versus 609/187 162, 0.3% p value = .001) cesarean delivery (CD) (97/429, 22.6% versus 26 280/187 162,14%, p value = .001), severe perineal tears (third or fourth degree; 2/429, 0.5%, versus 164/187 162, 0.1%, p value = .056) and blood transfusion (11/429, 2.6% versus 2448/187 162, 1.3%, p value = .022) as compared with the comparison group. Using a multivariable logistic regression model, history of cervical laceration in a previous pregnancy was found to be an independent risk factor for subsequent CD (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.9), recurrent cervical laceration (OR 29.3, 95% CI 17.7-48.5), severe perineal lacerations (OR 11.7, 95% CI 5.1-27.2), and preterm delivery (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-2.8) in the subsequent pregnancy.Conclusions: A history of intrapartum cervical laceration is an independent risk factor for recurrent cervical lacerations, CD, preterm delivery, and severe perineal lacerations in the subsequent pregnancy.

Maternal characteristics and causes associated with refractory postpartum haemorrhage after vaginal birth: a secondary analysis of the WHO CHAMPION trial data.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the maternal characteristics and causes associated with refractory postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). DESIGN: Secondary analysis of the WHO CHAMPION trial data. SETTING: Twenty-three hospitals in ten countries. POPULATION: Women from the CHAMPION trial who received uterotonics as first-line treatment of PPH. METHODS: We assessed the association between sociodemographic, pregnancy and childbirth factors and refractory PPH, and compared the causes of PPH between women with refractory PPH and women responsive to first-line PPH treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal characteristics; causes of PPH. RESULTS: Women with labour induced or augmented with uterotonics (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.35; 95% CI 1.07-1.72), with episiotomy or tears requiring suturing (aOR 1.82; 95% CI 1.34-2.48) and who had babies with birthweights ≥3500 g (aOR 1.33; 95% CI 1.04-1.69) showed significantly higher odds of refractory PPH compared with the reference categories in the multivariate analysis adjusted by centre and trial arm. While atony was the sole PPH cause in 53.2% (116/218) of the women in the responsive PPH group, it accounted for only 31.5% (45/143) of the causes in the refractory PPH group. Conversely, tears were the sole cause in 12.8% (28/218) and 28% (40/143) of the responsive PPH and refractory PPH groups, respectively. Placental problems were the sole cause in 11 and 5.6% in the responsive and refractory PPH groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Women with refractory PPH showed a different pattern of maternal characteristics and PPH causes compared with those with first-line treatment responsive PPH. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Women with refractory postpartum haemorrhage are different from those with first-line treatment responsive PPH.

Doença inflamatória do colo do útero: indicador indireto da saúde reprodutiva da mulher / Inflammatory disease of cervix uteri: indirect indicator of women's reproductive health / Cervicitis: indicador indirecto de la salud reproductiva de las mujeres

Objetivo: analisar as internações por doença inflamatória do colo do útero e os fatores que influenciam a sua ocorrência. Método: estudo seccional, prospectivo, baseado em um inquérito de morbidade hospitalar realizado em 2013, com amostra de 429 mulheres internadas em hospitais no município de Guarapuava. Os dados foram analisados por meio de análise bivariada e regressão logística. O projeto foi aprovado por Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Resultados: do total de mulheres internadas, 45 (10,4%) foram por doença inflamatória do colo do útero. Pertencer ao público alvo, ter realizado o exame no mínimo uma vez, procurar o serviço regularmente para o controle de saúde e apresentar o resultado dentro dos limites de normalidade em 1 ano atuaram como fatores de proteção contra a ocorrência dessas internações. Conclusão: o conhecimento dos fatores que se relacionam ao desfecho fornece subsídios para a readequação dos serviços que prestam assistência às mulheres, a fim de prevenir as internações.

Objective: to examine hospital admissions for inflammatory disease of the cervix uteri and the related factors. Method: this prospective, cross-sectional study based on a hospital morbidity survey was conducted in 2013 with a sample of 429 women admitted to hospitals in the city of Guarapuava. Data were analyzed by bivariate analysis and logistic regression. The project was approved by the institution's research ethics committee. Results: 45 (10.4%) of the women were hospitalized for inflammatory disease of the cervix uteri. Protective factors against the occurrence of such hospitalizations included belonging to the target public, having performed the examination at least once, attending the service regularly for a health check and returning a result within normal limits in the prior year. Conclusion: knowledge of the factors relating to the outcome provides input for adjusting women's care services in order to prevent hospitalizations.

Objetivo: analizar las internaciones por cervicitis y los factores que influencian su ocurrencia. Método: estudio seccional, prospectivo basado en una encuesta de morbilidad hospitalaria realizada en 2013, con muestra de 429 mujeres internadas en hospitales en el municipio de Guarapuava. Los datos se analizaron por medio de análisis bivariado y regresión logística. El estudio fue aprobado por Comité de Ética en Investigación. Resultados: del total de mujeres internadas, 45 (10,4%) lo fueron por cervicitis. Pertenecer al público objetivo, haber realizado el examen al menos una vez, buscar el servicio regularmente para el control de salud y presentar el resultado dentro de los límites de la normalidad en 01 año actuaron como factores de protección respecto a la ocurrencia de estas hospitalizaciones. Conclusión: el conocimiento de los factores que se relacionan al desenlace propo

Timing of cesarean and its impact on labor duration and genital tract trauma at the first subsequent vaginal birth: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were to explore the course of labor and the risk of obstetric anal sphincter injury at the first vaginal birth after cesarean section (fVBAC) in comparison to primiparous vaginal birth (PVB) in women without epidural analgesia and to assess if laboring before the previous cesarean affected these outcomes. METHODS: All fVBACs without epidural analgesia and the subsequent PVBs (controls) between 2012 and 2016 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Data were collected from health records and included maternal demographics, gestational age, and labor details (duration of 1st and 2nd stages, labor induction or augmentation, birthweight, operative vaginal birth, estimated blood loss, extent of childbirth trauma) in both groups as well as cervical dilation at the time of previous cesarean in the fVBAC group. Wilcoxon and Chi-square tests were used for data analyses. RESULTS: The study comprised 510 women; 255 fVBACs and 255 controls. The majority of fVBACs were after a pre-labor cesarean section - 177 (69.4%). There was a statistically significant difference in the recorded duration of first stage between the fVBACs and controls (289 vs. 347 min respectively, p < .001). Women were less likely to have an intact perineum in the fVBAC group (29.8 vs. 43.1%, p < 0.01), however, there was no statistically significant difference in anal sphincter injury rates between both groups (2.3 vs. 1.9%, p = 0.76). The groups differed in rates of cervical tears requiring suturing (21.2 vs. 12.9%, p = 0.01). On further subgroup analysis, the duration of first stage of labor was shorter in women who previously had a caesarean section late in labor (≥ 8 cm cervical dilatation) compared to a pre-labor cesarean section, however, there were no differences in other outcomes. CONCLUSION: Compared to primiparous women having a vaginal birth, women having their first vaginal birth after a cesarean section have a shorter 1st stage of labor (particularly if the cesarean was performed in advanced labor), a higher risk of sustaining cervical lacerations and perineal trauma. However, there was no difference in the risk of sustaining obstetric anal sphincter injuries between the study groups.

The Management of a patient with a fragmented intrauterine device embedded within the cervical canal.

A 28-year-old woman presented with a malpositioned intrauterine device (IUD) that was fragmented and significantly entrenched within the cervical canal and myometrium. IUD malposition with concomitant device fragmentation and embedded segments, albeit rare, should be a consideration given the device's prevalence.

Second-Degree Burn Sustained After Vaginal Steaming.

BACKGROUND: Vaginal steaming has gained increased popularity as a method to achieve empowerment by providing vaginal tightening and to "freshen" the vagina. CASE: A 62-year-old woman sustained second-degree burns following vaginal steaming in an attempt to reduce vaginal prolapse. CONCLUSION: Clinicians need to be aware of alternative treatments available to women so that counselling may mitigate any potential harm.

Exame preventivo para o câncer de colo durante a gravidez: experiências das gestantes / Examen preventivo para el cáncer de cuello uterino durante el embarazo: experiencias de las mujeres embarazadas / Preventive test for cervical cancerduring pregnancy: experiences ofpregnant women

Objetivo descrever a experiência de gestantes com a realização do exame preventivo de colo de útero na gestação. Método pesquisa descritiva e exploratória, de abordagem qualitativa, realizada com 20 gestantes vinculadas ao pré-natal de uma unidade de Estratégia de Saúde da Família da cidade de Maceió, Alagoas, Brasil. Informações produzidas entre abril e agosto de 2018, por meio do Formulário de Identificação Socioeconômica e entrevista semiestruturada. Os dados foram analisados pela técnica de análise de conteúdo de Bardin. Resultados as experiências vivenciadas acerca da realização do exame durante a gestação eram, muitas vezes, permeadas por sentimentos como vergonha, medo e dor, causando impacto negativo na aceitação de muitas gestantes, mesmo fazendo parte dos exames de rotina do pré-natal. Conclusão as gestantes consideraram o exame preventivo de colo de útero na gestação um procedimento importante na manutenção da saúde, embora não tivessem claro conhecimento acerca da sua verdadeira finalidade.

Objetivo describir la experiencia de mujeres embarazadas con la realización del examen preventivo del cuello uterino durante el embarazo. Método investigación descriptiva y exploratoria, con enfoque cualitativo, con 20 embarazadas vinculadas a la atención prenatal en unidad de Estrategia de Salud Familiar, en Maceió, Alagoas, Brasil. Información producida entre abril y agosto de 2018, a través del Formulario de Identificación Socioeconómica y entrevista semiestructurada. Datos se analizaron utilizándose de la técnica de análisis de contenido de Bardin. Resultados las experiencias vividas sobre la realización del examen durante embarazo, a menudo, estuvieron impregnadas de sentimientos, como vergüenza, miedo y dolor, lo que causó impacto negativo en la aceptación de muchas mujeres embarazadas, incluso formando parte de los exámenes prenatales de rutina. Conclusión las mujeres embarazadas consideraron el examen preventivo cervical durante el embarazo como procedimiento importante para mantener la salud, aunque no tenían claro cuál era el verdadero propósito.

Objective to describe the experience of pregnant women with the accomplishment of the cervical preventive test in pregnancy. Method descriptive and exploratory research, with qualitative approach, performed with 20 pregnant women linked to prenatal care from a Family Health Strategy unit in the city of Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. Information produced between April and August 2018 through the Socioeconomic Identification Form and semi-structured interview. The data were analyzed through content analysis technique of Bardin. Results the experiences about the accomplishment of the test during pregnancy were often permeated by feelings like shame, fear and pain, negatively affecting the acceptance of many pregnant women, even as part of prenatal routine tests. Conclusion pregnant women considered the cervical preventive test in pregnancy an important procedure in health maintenance, although they had no clear knowledge about its true purpose.

Asymptomatic uterine incarceration at term: Successful management of a rare complication in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Incarcerated gravid uterus is a rare complication of pregnancy and can become a critical condition during delivery. For extremely uncommon cases that persist to the third trimester, correct diagnosis before delivery and appropriate management of the associated complications are important. CASE REPORT: This was the first case of a full-term pregnancy with incarcerated gravid uterus, reported at a medical center. The condition was not diagnosed during pregnancy, which led to serious complications during the cesarean delivery; however, the prognosis was favorable because of the timely management. CONCLUSION: Based on the previous case reports and clinical presentation of this case, early diagnosis with ultrasound and pelvic examination is the key to successful treatment. Vertical and more cephalad uterine incision reduces the risk of bladder perforation and injury to the cervix and vagina. A successful teamwork of obstetricians, gynecologists, urologists, and anesthesiologists can ensure favorable outcomes for both mother and fetus.

Single Intrauterine Death in Twins: The Importance of Fetal Order.

Perinatal mortality is higher in twins. Effects of twin order have not previously been studied in the context of single fetal demise. Our objective was to determine whether death of the fetus more proximal to the cervix will result in worse perinatal outcomes. Our population included multiple pregnancies with two viable fetuses confirmed prior to 20 weeks' gestation with the subsequent death of at least one twin. All the pregnancies were managed at The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne between 2006 and 2014. We excluded pregnancies of higher order multiples, the death of both twins simultaneously, and cases with incomplete outcome data. Maternal and neonatal data were reviewed. Of 46 pregnancies included, in 24 (52%), the dead twin was presenting. Gestational age at delivery was significantly earlier in these cases (mean difference: -5.0 weeks, 95% CI [-7.4, -2.6], p < .001), and emergency cesarean rates were higher 67% versus 32% (OR 4.29, 95% CI [1.25, 14.7], p = .02). There were no differences in the frequency of chorioamnionitis, preterm prelabor rupture of membranes, or placental abruption. Survival rates for co-twins were similar in both groups (presenting 83%; not presenting 91%; OR 0.41, 95% CI [0.07, 2.50], p = .29). The increase in neonatal morbidities was related to prematurity rather than to order. Findings were more common in dichorionic twins. Analysis was limited by a small sample size. If the dead twin is presenting, delivery is likely to occur earlier, with associated morbidity for the survivors. This is especially relevant for dichorionic twin pregnancies.

Length of the second stage of labor and preterm delivery risk in the subsequent pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Cervical injury is regarded as an important risk factor for preterm delivery. A prolonged second stage of labor may increase the risk of cervical injury that, in turn, may be associated with increased risk of spontaneous preterm delivery in the subsequent pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate whether the duration of the second stage of labor in a term primiparous singleton delivery is associated with an increased risk of singleton spontaneous preterm delivery (<37 weeks) in the second pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: We carried out a retrospective cohort analysis of women with 2 consecutive pregnancies: a first term (≥37 weeks) delivery and second birth. Data were derived from a single institution's prospectively collected obstetrical database from January 2005 through January 2015. Duration of the second stage of labor was examined as a continuous variable, modeled based on nonparametric restricted cubic regression spline with 4 degrees of freedom. Second-stage duration was also examined as short (<30 minutes), normal (30-179 minutes), and prolonged, defined as ≥180 minutes. The association between the duration of the second stage of labor in the first term pregnancy and the risk for spontaneous preterm delivery in the second pregnancy was evaluated before and after adjusting for potential confounders based on the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Associations were expressed based on the adjusted hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: In all, 6715 women met inclusion criteria. The hazard of spontaneous preterm delivery in the second pregnancy trended higher with both shorter and longer second-stage labors. The length of the second stage of labor in the first term delivery was categorized as short (<30 minutes) in 1749 (26.0%), normal (30-179 minutes) in 4551 (67.8%), and prolonged (≥180 minutes), in 415 (6.2%) women. Of these 6715 women with a first term delivery, 4.2% (n = 279) delivered spontaneously preterm in the second pregnancy. The risks of spontaneous preterm delivery among women with prolonged (≥180 minutes) second stage of labor and normal labor duration (30-179 minutes) were 5.4% (n = 22) and 3.5% (n = 158), respectively (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.84). This increased risk for prolonged second stage of labor was primarily seen among women who underwent a cesarean (hazard ratio, 3.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-10.49), but was imprecise among women who delivered vaginally (hazard ratio, 1.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-3.74). The risk of spontaneous preterm delivery among women with short second stage of labor (<30 minutes) in their first term pregnancy was 5.8% (n = 99; hazard ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.67). CONCLUSION: The risk of spontaneous preterm delivery in the second pregnancy was increased in women with a prolonged (≥180 minutes) second stage in the first term pregnancy. This risk was even greater among women who were delivered by cesarean in the first pregnancy.

A case of suspected illegal abortion: how clinicians may assist the forensic pathologist.

Abortion may be performed in a safe or unsafe manner, the latter being a frequent and dangerous event. It can also be performed in countries where abortion is legally recognised but, for various reasons, may be undertaken in an illegal environment. We present a case of a possible illegal abortion. A woman presented to the hospital with a dead fetus, saying that she was the victim of a car accident. Forensic and gynaecological examination of the woman were carried out, along with an autopsy of the fetus. It was discovered that the woman had performed a clandestine abortion. The differential diagnosis between illegal abortion and miscarriage represents a complicated issue and requires both clinical and forensic support. The gynaecologist may be of assistance to the forensic pathologist in confirming whether an illegal abortion has been performed.