Mid trimester abortion by one shot administration of prostaglandin.

PIP: 268 cases in which mid trimester abortion in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy was performed by injecting prostaglandins by intra-amniotic route were studied. Details are presented of 1 study in which 100 cases had prostaglandin injected intraamniotically in 1 shot. 50 cases received 50 mg of PGF2a and 40 received 2.5 mg of 15 Methyl PGF2a, an analogue more potent and longer acting. The majority of the patients were primigravida, most of these being unmarried mothers. The average gestation period in both groups was between 17-18 weeks. The average induction onset interval was considerably shorter in PGF2a group, but its abortion time was just about 1 hour less than that of the methyl analogue. The average incidence of vomiting is about 2-folds and that of loose motionsis almost 5 times in the 15 Methyl group. 81% of the patients were followed up, and 86% of this group stopped bleeding within 10 days and the remaining within 20 days. There has not been a single incidence of post abortal infection. The disadvantages associated with the original intravenous administration of prostaglandin have been overcome by using the intra-amniotic routes. 1 of the greatest advantages of 1 shot intra-amniotic PGF2a 50 mg was a low incidence of incomplete abortion. Only 12% of cases in this group had retained placenta compared to 40-50% in the other groups.^ieng