<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Undertaken under heavy sedation or general anesthesia . Risk of perforation . Day - case procedure </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Infobox references </Td> </Tr> <P> Dilation (or dilatation) and curettage (D&C) refers to the dilation (widening / opening) of the cervix and surgical removal of part of the lining of the uterus and / or contents of the uterus by scraping and scooping (curettage). It is a therapeutic gynecological procedure as well as the most often used method of first trimester miscarriage or abortion . </P> <P> D&C normally refers to a procedure involving a curette, also called sharp curettage . However, some sources use the term D&C to refer more generally 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 . </P>

What does d&c stand for in medical terms