Termination of second trimester pregnancy by intramuscular injection of 16‐phenoxy‐ω‐17,18,19,20‐tetranor‐PGE2 methyl sulphonylamide

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Abstract
Two doses of the prostaglandin analogue 16‐phenoxy‐ω‐17,18,19,20‐tetranor‐PGE2 methyl sulphonylamide were compared in a randomized multicentre trial in 6 centres for the termination of second trimester pregnancy. A total of 295 patients were treated with either 0.5 mg or 1.0 mg given by intramuscular injection every 4 h or 8 h, respectively. The 1‐mg dose was more effective in inducing an abortion than the lower dose but the difference was not statistically significant. Eighty‐four per cent of the patients aborted within 30 h from the onset of treatment. The induction‐abortion interval was approximately 15 h in both groups. The incidence of incomplete abortion, heavy blood loss and blood transfusion was similar for both treatments. Cervical lacerations occurred in 1.3% of patients given the smaller dose and 2.1% of the larger dose. In one patient belonging to the latter group an anterior rupture of the lower uterine segment was diagnosed necessitating hysterectomy. Fifty per cent of the patients had no vomiting and 90% no diarrhea. The frequency of gastrointestinal side effects was slightly higher with the 1‐mg dose. The major advantages of this treatment are the simplicity of administration and the low frequency of gastrointestinal side effects in comparison with prostaglandin F analogues.