Unsafe abortion is defined as a procedure for termination of unwanted pregnancy either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment lacking the minimal medical standard or both. [1] It is an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. It contributes 40% of maternal mortality in Nigeria. [2] Uterine perforation is a recognized complication of unsafe abortion. It occurs in 0.4–15 cases per 1000 induced abortions depending on the study population. [3] Bowel injury is uncommonly reported yet serious complication of induced abortion which is often performed illegally by persons without any medical training in developing countries. [4] [5] This is clearly demonstrated in this case. A sudden increase in cases of bowel injury as a consequence of induced abortion prompted researchers in India to conduct a study into the problem. [5] Many studies were carried out in Cameroon, Nigeria and Ghana on this deraided complication of induced abortion. [4] [6] [7] The fact that in this particular case the pregnancy was not unwanted, the procedure was done because of a missed abortion in a public hospital, under anesthesia, having failed to terminate the pregnancy with misoprostol and oxytocin infusion make the case an interesting one to report. It clearly demonstrates the pathetic state of our health care delivery system where seeking care in a health facility does not necessarily guaranty that patients are safe from unnecessary and potentially life-threatening complications because such facilities are poorly equipped and manned by ill trained personnel.

A 25-year-old G3P2+0 (with 2 living children) patient came into the Gynae emergency room of our hospital with a referral letter from a public hospital in her locality. She had been amenorrheic for about eight weeks prior to presentation and had intermittent episodes of bleeding per vaginum. At presentation at a local hospital a pelvic ultrasound scan was done which revealed a missed abortion at eighth week and six days. She was informed of the result and told that the pregnancy has to be removed which she consented to. Initially, misoprostol was used vaginally to induce abortion. When this failed, oxytocin infusion was used which also failed. Two days later she was told that since these two methods did not work she will undergo dilatation curettage (D&C) to remove the pregnancy.

The D&C procedure was carried out and she later started experiencing severe lower abdominal pain and was bleeding through the vagina. The relatives were told also there that the pregnancy could not be removed completely and part of it is protruding through the vagina and the patient will be referred to the Teaching Hospital in the city where the rest will be removed. She presented more than 24 hours after the procedure because they had difficulty getting money and transportation.

At presentation, she was drowsy with offensive smell around her. She was pale, febrile (38.10°C), anicteric and dehydrated. Respiratory rate 26/min, her chest was clinically clear. Pulse rate was 104/minute, blood pressure was 90/60 mmHg. Her abdomen was slightly distended and there was generalized tenderness, bowel sounds were hypoactive. Pelvic examination revealed vulva and vagina smeared with blood. A vaginal pack was removed and dark pink intestines started coming out through the vaginal introitus with slight bleeding.

An intravenous line was secured and two liters of normal saline were rushed and another liter was kept running at slower rate. She was immediately placed on intravenous ceftriazone and metronidazole. Nasogastric tube was inserted and she was catheterized. Samples were taken for complete blood count, random blood sugar, serum electrolytes and urea and 4 pints of blood were cross matched. Her hemoglobin was 8 g/dL and other results were not available before surgery. A surgical team was called to review the patient. A joint decision was taken to carry out an exploratory laparotomy. The patient was counselled and her consent obtained. About 10 hours after presentation she was taken to the theatre for surgery.

Findings at Operation
Offensive hemoperitoneum of about 1000 mL, a bulky uterus of about 16 weeks size, a posterior uterine perforation about 4 cm in diameter with rugged edges with dark pink ileal tissue passing through the perforation about 30 cm long, the tubes and ovaries were enlarged and hyperemic. A linear laceration on the anterior aspect of the upper 1/3 of the rectum with devitalized edges, distal sigmoid colon lacerated with irregular devitalized edges. The uterine perforation was enlarged and placental tissues evacuated gently and the perforation repaired after excising the devitalized edges. Refashioning and anastomosis of the sigmorectoid and ileocecal junctions were done. The peritoneal cavity was copiously lavaged and a corrugated drain passed into pouch of Douglas and fixed to the skin. The abdomen was closed in layers. Two pints of blood were transfused intraoperatively, IV ceftriazone and metronidazole were also given. Intraoperative blood loss was estimated to be 750 mL. Patient was transfused two more pints of blood postoperatively. (Figure 1) (Figure 2)

Patient fared fairly well postoperatively with relatively stable vital signs and was making adequate urine. On the fourth postoperative day she started running temperature and her condition suddenly deteriorated and she died the same day.

Induced abortion has remained a source of serious concern to all gynecologist worldwide especially those in the developing world. This is so because in our environment there are still factors militating against the performance of safe abortion. Most worrisome are untrained quacks whose motive may be financial and their skills negligible. [8] A major barrier to care in many developing countries is the lack of basic equipment and drugs for all gynecological care. [9] Restrictive abortion laws is another important hindrance to safe abortion because women seeking abortion are left with no alternative other than procuring it through the backdoor which make them vulnerable to all complications including death. Legalization of abortion although important is insufficient. India has had legal abortion on the books for several decades as has Zambia, however the devil is in the details. [10] Without skilled providers, adequate facilities and early access, the promise of safe, legal abortion will remain unfulfilled, as in the case of India and Zambia. [11] Bowel injury is a common consequence of uterine perforation either with pointed instruments or grasping forceps. The distal ileum appears to be most vulnerable followed by the sigmoid. [12] The patient in question had similar injuries. Such injuries are associated with peritoneal soilage with fecal material containing virulent intestinal bacteria, which invariably leads to peritonitis and generalized septicemia; this will lead to serious morbidity and in extreme cases death will result as in this case. Early recognition of the injury, adequate resuscitation and experienced surgical intervention may be the only solution if the life of the patient is to be saved. These are usually not possible in developing countries and as a result patients die. Our patient could not come immediately because of financial difficulty and challenges of transportation. This delay must have compounded her clinical condition at presentation.

To arrest this pathetic situation, Governments in partnership with nongovernmental organizations, religious groups and women groups should embark on extensive community awareness campaigns on the issue of abortion and its consequences. Governments should improve the health care delivery system through training, provision of equipment and facilities to be made available and accessible at all times and to most communities no matter how remote they may be. There is also the need to review our abortion laws so that morbidity and mortality attributed to abortion will be drastically reduced.

Complications of induced abortions in our environment are still common as untrained or poorly trained personnel engage in such procedures with grave consequences. To reduce these complications there is a need for proper training and provision of proper equipment and ensuring proper supervision of medical facilities. There is also a need for public enlightenment on induced abortion and its consequences.

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