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Objective: Our purpose was to compare the complication rate of first-trimester suction curettage with that of second-trimester dilation-and-evacuation abortions in the same clinical setting., Study Design: Retrospective analysis (chart review) of the 3772 induced abortions performed between 1986 and 1990 at the Family Planning Clinic of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada., Results: Among the 3355 cases with known follow-up (89%), the complication rate was 5.1% for the 2908 suction curettages at < 15 weeks' gestation compared with 2.9% for the 447 dilation-and-evacuation procedures at 15 to 20 weeks' gestation. Serious complications were few and not increased among patients undergoing dilation and evacuation., Conclusion: A careful approach to second-trimester dilation-and-evacuation procedures can make them comparatively as safe as suction curettages, contrary to common belief derived from large surveys done in the late 1970s.

Accidental burns or burn-like injuries continue to occur during lengthy surgical procedures. Many remain unexplained as to the cause. The threat of litigation suppresses discussion of the incidence of injuries of this type -- which are not uncommon. The same threat appears to have suppressed wider discussion of potential solutions. Many of these burn-like injuries are not burns but pressure sores, and as such are preventable. Strategies for reducing the numbers of injuries of this type are discussed.

Investigation has shown that when ampules containing Pantopaque are opened, a variable amount of fragments of glass may fall into the Pantopaque. When the Pantopaque is injected into the spinal canal these fragments may also be injected. As yet the results of injecting fragments of glass into the spinal subarachnoid space are unknown. The glass can be removed by passing the Pantopaque through a 0.22 micron Millex Filter.