MIDTRIMESTER-ABORTION BY INTRA-AMNIOTIC PROSTAGLANDIN-F-2ALPHA - SAFER THAN SALINE

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 49  (5) , 612-616
Abstract
Published reports disagree on risks of intraamniotic prostaglandin F2.alpha. (PGF2.alpha.) for midtrimester abortion. To evaluate safety and efficacy of intraamniotic PGF2.alpha., 1241 PGF2.alpha. and 10,013 saline abortions performed during the 13th to the 24th menstrual wk were compared. Results were reported in the Joint Program for the Study of Abortion/CDC [Center of Disease Control], a multicenter prospective study. PGF2.alpha. abortions required less time (P < .001) but had higher rates of major complications (P < .01), antibiotic and operative treatment of complications (P < .001) and readmission to a hospital (P < .001). The current contention that PGF2.alpha. is safer than saline as an abortifacient is challenged.