COMPARISON BETWEEN INTRA-AMNIOTIC PGF 2-ALPHA AND VAGINAL PGE2 FOR 2ND-TRIMESTER ABORTION

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 56  (1) , 90-96
Abstract
Patients (203) undergoing 2nd-trimester abortion with intraamniotic prostaglandin [PG] F2.alpha. or vaginal PGE2 were compared. There were no statistical differences between the 2 groups with regard to age, race, gravidity or gestational age. The average induction-to-abortion (I-A) interval for PGF2.alpha. was 18.53 h, compared with 13.25 h for PGE2. The largest difference was in primigravidas (PGE2 6 h shorter). There was no difference in the frequency of completed abortions in each group (.apprx. 50%). No correlation was found between gestational age and the I-A interval or percentage of complete abortions. Percentage of abortions completed by 24 h or less was 97.6% for PGE2, vs. 78.5% for PGF2.alpha.. Abortions with PGE2 required a larger total PG dose and a cost 2.8 times greater than did those with PGF2.alpha.. Side effects of vomiting, diarrhea, pyrexia and hypotension were significantly more frequent with PGE2 suppositories. Hypertension was statistically more common with PGF2.alpha.. In pregnancy of < 16 wk duration, the known difficulty in performing amniocentesis and the proved shorter I-A interval with PGE2 imply that vaginal suppositories are the agent of choice prior to 16 wk gestation.