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PIP: This study investigated the efficacy of ethacridine lactate by the extraamniotic route during 2nd trimester pregnancy termination as well as its associated complications. This retrospective study of 315 women undergoing 2nd trimester terminations over a 3 1/2 year period was based at a teaching hospital in Bombay. Patients received either extraamniotic ethacridine alone or supplemented later with extraamniotic 15-methyl- prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha). Women were divided into 2 groups--in group 1, 207 women received 150 ml of 0.1% ethacridine lactate injected slowly into the extraamniotic space; in group 2, 108 women had the initial injection supplemented 6 hours later by an extraamniotic injection of 250 mcg (1 ml) of 15-methyl-PGF2alpha. Outcome measures which were evaluated were the occurrence of abortion following the induction procedure and the development of complications such as hemorrhage, infection, and injury to the cervix or uterus. The method was successful in 191 women (92%) in group 1 and in 106 (98%) in group 2. The mean induction-abortion intervals were 35 and 19 hours, respectively (Mann-Whitney U test, p0.001). The corrected complication rate was 10% (30 women), with unplanned uterine evacuation in 6% (20), hemorrhage in 1% (4), and pelvic infection in 4% (14). The authors conclude that the use of extraamniotic ethacridine lactate provides an effective and safe treatment method for 2nd trimester legal abortion. The induction-abortion interval can be appreciably reduced by supplementary PGs.
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