ABSTRACT
PIP: Dilapan (DTD) rods of 4 mm diameter and 65 mm length made with polymetric polyacrylonitrile by the Swiss Robapharm firm were used in 42 women 5-8 weeks pregnant and in 27 women 8-12 weeks pregnant for cervical dilatation prior to miniabortion and conventional abortion,respectively. In addition, they were also used in 10 women with advanced pregnancy of more than 12 weeks' duration, and in 2 women for preventive diagnostic curettage. A total of 103 rods were used in 83 women. 76.2% of the 1st group of 42 women were multigravidas, 14.3% were secundigravidas, and 9.5% were primigravidas. Insertion lasted an average of 60-90 minutes. In the 2nd group of 27 women, 77.8% were multigravidas, 11.1% were secundigravidas, and 11.1% were secundigravidas, and 11.1% were primigravidas. Insertion took longer: 90-150 minutes in 55.6% of these patients. In the 3rd group of 10 patients abortion was indicated because of psychiatric reasons or renal insufficiency of for fear of stillbirth. 60% were primigravidas, 20% were secundigravidas, and 20% were secundigravidas, and 20% were tercigravidas. In 7 cases of 17-20 week old pregnancies and 3 cases of 22-30 week old gravidity, oxytocin and other methods were also used, 3 or 4 rods were inserted, and the procedure lasted up to 20-25 hours. Dilatation of the cervix reached 6.6 to 7.4 mm in 1-1 1/2 hours, and 7.1 to 8.1 mm in 1 1/2-2 hours corresponding to Hegar 8-9. In 2 cases extraction of the rods became difficult, and in 1 case of a 20-year old primigravida only 3 cm of insertion succeeded because of rigidity. Side effects included minor lower abdominal pain (4 cases) or sensation of pressure (1 case), and temperature of 38.5 degrees Celsius (1 case) 14 hours after insertion, although this could have been associated with the fact that Endoprost was administered at the same time.^ieng
