Cervical dilation from multiple laminaria tents used for abortion.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the cervical dilation achieved from multiple medium-thick laminaria tents used for 16-26 hours in single applications before abortion.


METHODS
In a practice setting, cervical dilation was studied from all abortions done at greater than 8 weeks in which one or more medium-thick laminaria tents were used in a single application for 16-26 hours. Multiple regression analysis was used to quantify results.


RESULTS
There was a positive linear regression of dilation against weeks of gestation for all numbers of tents. The more tents, the greater the dilation; the more weeks, the greater the dilation.


CONCLUSIONS
Approximate cervical circumferential dilation from medium-thick laminaria tents under the constraints listed is provided by the formula: Pratt dilation = 12.36 + (2.35 x tents) + (1.79 x weeks).
Munsick
R A
RA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA.
Fineberg
N S
NS
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri; D004106:Dilatation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007795:Laminaria; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors