ABSTRACT
PIP: In order to study the fetal changes in saline induced abortion, a prospective study was made of 40 midtrimester therapeutic abortions performed at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur, India. The patients were between the ages of 14 and 40 years, and their parity ranged from 0-8. The gestation varied from 14-20 weeks. The most significant gross finding was the presence of dehydration and cutaneous and subcutaneous hemorrhages, and the most characteristic histological findings was generalized vascular congestion and dilatation in all organs. The most significant changes were in the lungs and the kidneys. The renal tubules showed diffuse shrinkage, the tubular epithelium revealing separation of the cell walls from the tubular basement membrane. The changes are believed to be consistent with those seen in hypernatremic dehydration. In sum, the study supports the view of Galen et al. (1974) that the pathological changes in fetuses in saline induced abortions can be attributed to acute salt toxicity.^ieng
