Dilation and evacuation

Dilation and evacuation
D&E
Background
Abortion typeSurgical
First use1970s
Gestation13–24 weeks
Infobox references

Dilation and evacuation (D&E) or dilatation and evacuation (British English) is the dilation of the cervix and surgical evacuation of the uterus (potentially including the fetus, placenta and other tissue) after the first trimester of pregnancy. It is a method of abortion as well as a common procedure used after miscarriage to remove all pregnancy tissue.[1][2]

In various health care centers it may be called by different names:

  • D&E (Dilation and evacuation)
  • ERPOC (Evacuation of Retained Products of Conception)
  • TOP or STOP ((Surgical) Termination Of Pregnancy)

D&E normally refers to a specific second trimester procedure.[2] However, some sources use the term D&E to refer more generally to any procedure that involves the processes of dilation and evacuation, which includes the first trimester procedures of manual and electric vacuum aspiration.[1] Intact Dilation and Extraction (D&X) is a different procedural variation on D&E.[3]

Dilation and evacuation procedures have been increasingly banned in US states since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision overruled the right to an abortion.[4]

  1. ^ a b "Miscarriage". EBSCO Publishing Health Library. Brigham and Women's Hospital. January 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-04-07.
  2. ^ a b "Dilation and evacuation (D&E) for abortion". Healthwise. WebMD. 2004-10-07. Archived from the original on 2007-05-02. Retrieved 2007-04-07.
  3. ^ Haskell, Martin (1992-09-13). "Dilation and Extraction for Late Second Trimester Abortion". National Abortion Federation Risk Management Seminar. Dallas, Texas. Archived from the original on September 16, 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).