The safety of outpatient abortion, a controlled study

Abstract

Between February 1974 and September 1974, a controlled study was carried out in the University department of Kandang Kerbau Hospital, Singapore, to determine the safety of outpatient abortion in patients between 7-12 weeks' gestation. 1,466 cases for abortion were randomly divided into those for outpatient abortion and those for inpatient abortion. In each group either general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia was used and the abortion was performed under a standard procedure. Patients were then followed up at 7 days and 28 days after the abortion and the attendance rate was 98.8%. When the results were analysed regarding satisfactory outcome or complications, it is concluded that outpatient abortion under local anaesthesia was a safe procedure.