title: Second-trimester induced abortions in two tertiary centres in Rome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Demand for second-trimester induced abortions (STIAs) increases in Italy. For these procedures, prostaglandins alone were used until 2010, when mifepristone became available. The present study compares the two modalities, and investigates the reasons for STIAs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of all such procedures performed at the Department of Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Urology of the 'Sapienza' University (Rome), between January 2004 and December 2012, and of all those done at the 'San Filippo' Hospital (Rome), between January 2010 and December 2012, were analysed. Data gathered included women's age, obstetric history, reasons for requesting the STIA, gestational age, mode of intervention, and complications if any.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 353 women requested a STIA. Karyotype or genetic anomalies were the reason for the request in 187 cases (53%), while structural anomalies, both single and multiple, were given as the reason in 158 (45%). In most cases, these anomalies were assessed by ultrasound scan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Few studies have investigated reasons for requesting STIAs. Of all chromosome abnormalities diagnosed in this study, trisomy 21 was the most common (59%) and it was the most frequent reason for requesting pregnancy termination.
authors.affiliation: * Department of Gynaecology, Obstetrics, and Urology, Sapienza University , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bastianelli
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farris
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aliberti
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parachini
mesh_terms: D000019:Abortifacient Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012384:Rome; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D015735:Mifepristone; C021182:gemeprost; D000527:Alprostadil