2ND TRIMESTER PREGNANCY TERMINATION USING EXTRAAMNIOTIC ETHACRIDINE LACTATE

Objective–To investigate the efficacy of ethacridine lactate by the extraamniotic route for second trimester pregnancy termination and its associated complications. Design–Retrospective study of women undergoing second trimester termination, over 3½ years, with extra‐amniotic ethacridine alone, or extra‐amniotic ethacridine supplemented later by extra‐amniotic 15‐methyl prostaglandin F,α. Setting–Teaching hospital in Bombay. Patients–315 consecutive women undergoing late abortions with extraamniotic ethacridine. Demographic features were similar in the two groups. Interventions–In group 1, 207 women had 150ml of 0.1% ethacridine lactate injected slowly into the extra‐amniotic space. In group 2, 108 women had the initial injection supplemented 6 h later by an extra‐amniotic injection of 250 μ.g (1 ml) of 15‐methyl prostaglandin F2α. Main outcome measures–The occurrence of abortion following the induction procedure. The development of complications such as haemorrhage, infection, or injury to the uterus or cervix. Results–The method was successful in 191 women (92%) in group 1 and in 106 (98%) in group 2. The median induction‐abortion intervals were 35 and 19 h, respectively (Mann‐Whitney U test, P<0.001). The corrected complication rate was <10% (30 women), with unplanned uterine evacuation in 6% (20), haemorrhage in 1% (4), and pelvic infection in 4% (14). Conclusion–The use of extra‐amniotic ethacridine lactate provides an effective and safe treatment method for second trimester legal abortion. The inductionabortion interval can be appreciably reduced by supplementary prostaglandin. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved