Prostaglandin-induced pregnancy termination: further studies using gemeprost (16,16 dimethyl-trans-delta 2-PGE1 methyl ester) vaginal pessaries in the early second trimester.
The use of gemeprost (16,16 dimethyl-trans-delta 2-PGE1 methyl ester) vaginal pessaries for the termination of pregnancy in the early second trimester has been further investigated. Of 113 women between 12 and 16 weeks gestation, 93 (82%) aborted within 24 hours of the administration of 4.4 +/- 0.1 1 mg gemeprost pessaries. The mean induction-abortion interval was 881 +/- 31 minutes. Successful abortion was achieved in 16 of the remaining 20 women after a second course of gemeprost pessaries without the need for oxytocin supplementation. There were no serious complications. Crampy abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding started after 275 and 756 minutes respectively. Twenty-two (19%) patients did not require pain relief during treatment, but 90 (80%) required parenteral opiates. Vomiting and diarrhoea occurred in 16 (14%) and 23 (20%) cases respectively. The safe induction of therapeutic abortion in 96% of women using vaginal prostaglandin alone offers an acceptable alternative to surgical evacuation in the early second trimester.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
I T
IT
Cameron
A F
AF
Michie
D T
DT
Baird
D000019:Abortifacient Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010570:Pessaries; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second
D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; C021182:gemeprost; D000527:Alprostadil