Local prostaglandin administration for mid trimester abortion: a retrospective analysis.
The hospital records of 548 consecutive patients undergoing midtrimester pregnancy termination by the local administration of prostaglandins (PGs) have been reviewed.  Most women (352 or 64%) were single and 322 (59%) were pregnant for the 1st time.  2/3 of the patients (361 or 66%) were between 12-16 weeks pregnant, whereas 7 (1%) were considered to be more than 20 weeks pregnant.  In 401 cases (92%), abortion was performed under Item 2 of the 1967 Abortion Act, although Item 4 was cited in 34 (81%) of those individuals with a pregnancy of greater than 17 weeks duration.  Apart from 10 women (2%) in whom severe hemorrhage was documented, the major complication rate was less than 1%.  The use of local PGs provides a safe, effective treatment method for therapeutic abortion in the 2nd trimester.
Cameron
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Baird
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D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000029:Abortion, Legal; D001695:Biology; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D003625:Data Collection; D003710:Demography; D019049:Developed Countries; D004703:Endocrine System; D005060:Europe; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005193:Family Planning Services; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010827:Physiology; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011453:Prostaglandins; D012098:Reproduction; D012106:Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D006113:United Kingdom
D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011453:Prostaglandins
Abortion, Induced--complications; Abortion, Induced--indications; Abortion, Legal; Biology; Carboxylic Acids; Data Analysis; Data Collection; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Endocrine System; Europe; Evaluation; Family Planning; Fertility Control, Postconception; Ingredients And Chemicals; Northern Europe; Organic Chemicals; Physiology; Population; Population Characteristics; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Second Trimester; Prostaglandins--administraction and dosage; Prostaglandins--side effects; Reproduction; Research Methodology; Retrospective Studies; Scotland; Studies; United Kingdom