Abstract
Background. A comparison of ethacridine lactate and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) with or without oxytocin infusion in second trimester medical abortion cases.
Methods. A prospective study was performed on 151 women requiring second trimester medical abortions between 1989 and 1995. Patients were randomly assigned to PGE2 group (n= 30), ethacridine lactate group (n48), ethacridine lactate combined with oxytocin infusion group (n=49) and PGE2 combined with oxytocin infusion group (n=24). Rates of successful abortion (i.e., complete evacuation of fetal and placental tissxies from the uterus) within 24 hours for each group were determined and compared by x2 and the Student r-test.
Results. Statistically significant difference concerning successful abortion rates was observed between ethacridine lactate and PGE2 groups, PGE2 and PGE2+oxytocin infusion groups, and ethacridine lactate+oxytocin infusion and PGE2 groups, while there was no significant difference between ethacridine lactate and ethacridine lactate+oxytocin infusion groups, ethacridine lactate and PGE2+oxytocin infusion groups, and PGE2+oxytocin infusion and ethacridine lactate+oxytocin infusion groups.
Conclusions. Extra-amniotic ethacridine lactate instillation alone and intracervical PGE2 gel application are effective and safe methods for second trimester abortion.