Therapeutic Abortion by Intra-amniotic Injection of Prostaglandins

Abstract

Intra-amniotic injection of either prostaglandin F₂α or prostaglandin E₂ was used in an attempt to induce therapeutic abortion in mid-pregnancy in 27 patients. Termination of pregnancy was successful in 11 out of 13 cases when prostaglandin E₂ alone was used, but in only 6 out of 14 cases when prostaglandin F₂α was used. A further eight patients aborted after additional intravenous oxytocin stimulation, but the combined procedures failed altogether in two patients who were initially given prostaglandin F₂α. The technique was simple, free from serious side effects, and reasonably effective when prostaglandin E₂ was used.