Second trimester pregnancy termination using extra-amniotic ethacridine lactate.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of ethacridine lactate by the extra-amniotic route for second trimester pregnancy termination and its associated complications.


METHODS
Retrospective study of women undergoing second trimester termination, over 3 1/2 years, with extra-amniotic ethacridine alone, or extra-amniotic ethacridine supplemented later by extra-amniotic 15-methyl prostaglandin F2 alpha.


METHODS
Teaching hospital in Bombay.


METHODS
315 consecutive women undergoing late abortions with extra-amniotic ethacridine. Demographic features were similar in the two groups.


METHODS
In group 1, 207 women had 150 ml of 0.1% ethacridine lactate injected slowly into the extra-amniotic space. In group 2, 108 women had the initial injection supplemented 6 h later by an extra-amniotic injection of 250 micrograms (1 ml) of 15-methyl prostaglandin F2 alpha.


METHODS
The occurrence of abortion following the induction procedure. The development of complications such as haemorrhage, infection, or injury to the uterus or cervix.


RESULTS
The method was successful in 191 women (92%) in group 1 and in 106 (98%) in group 2. The median induction-abortion intervals were 35 and 19 h, respectively (Mann-Whitney U test, P less than 0.001). The corrected complication rate was less than 10% (30 women), with unplanned uterine evacuation in 6% (20), haemorrhage in 1% (4), and pelvic infection in 4% (14).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of extra-amniotic ethacridine lactate provides an effective and safe treatment method for second trimester legal abortion. The induction-abortion interval can be appreciably reduced by supplementary prostaglandin.
Bhathena
R K
RK
Wadia Maternity Hospital, Bombay, India.
Sheriar
N K
NK
Walvekar
V R
VR
Guillebaud
J
J
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D002260:Carboprost / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004975:Ethacridine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D002260:Carboprost; D004975:Ethacridine