D&C | |
Background | |
---|---|
Abortion type | Surgical |
First use | Late 19th century |
Gestation | 4–12 weeks |
Usage | |
WHO recommends only when manual vacuum aspiration is unavailable | |
United States | 1.7% (2003) |
Medical notes | |
Undertaken under heavy sedation or general anesthesia. Risk of perforation. Day-case procedure | |
Infobox references |
Dilation (or dilatation) and curettage (D&C) refers to the dilation (widening or opening) of the cervix and surgical removal of sections and/or layers of the lining of the uterus and or contents of the uterus such as an unwanted fetus (early abortion before 13 weeks), remains of a non-viable fetus, retained placenta after birth or abortion as well as any abnormal tissue which may be in the uterus causing abnormal cycles by scraping and scooping (curettage). It is a gynecologic procedure used for treatment and removal as well as diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, and is the most commonly used method for first trimester abortion or miscarriage.[1][2][3][4]
D&C normally refers to a procedure involving a curette, also called sharp curettage.[2] However, some sources use the term D&C to refer to any procedure that involves the processes of dilation and removal of uterine contents which includes the more common suction curettage procedures of manual and electric vacuum aspiration.[5]