title: Small bowel obstruction following perforation of the uterus at induced abortion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Unsafe abortion is an important contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present a case of small bowel obstruction following perforation of the uterus at induced abortion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 36-year-old woman, presented at a private hospital, with abdominal pain and weight loss. She had full clinical assessment and laboratory investigations which indicated small bowel obstruction following perforation of the uterus at induced abortion, and was commenced on treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  She was para 5+0. Her main complaints were abdominal and weight loss following induced abortion of a 12- week pregnancy, four months prior to presentation. At presentation the tools (ultrasound scan, plain abdominal radiograph and barium enema) used for diagnoses only suggested some form of intestinal obstruction and were unremarkable. Correct diagnoses indicating small bowel obstruction was only made at laparotomy. An exploratory laparotomy, adhesiolysis, small bowel resection, end to end anastomosis and bowel decompression was done after bowel preparation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparotomy has an enviable place in bowel injuries secondary to uterine perforation especially when there is a diagnostic dilemma. Nigerian female population requires continuous health education on widespread and effective use of contraception. Physicians need training and retraining on abortion techniques and management of abortion complications.
authors.affiliation: Chevron Hospital, Warri.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Nkor
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Igberase
authors.forename: O C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Osime
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Faleyimu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Babalola
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001541:Benin; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D007421:Intestine, Small; D011247:Pregnancy; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D014595:Uterine Perforation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery