Local prostaglandin administration for mid trimester abortion: a retrospective analysis

The hospital records of 548 consecutive patients undergoing midtrimester pregnancy termination by the local administration of prostaglandins (PGs) have been reviewed. Most women (352 or 64%) were single and 322 (59%) were pregnant for the 1st time. 2/3 of the patients (361 or 66%) were between 12-16 weeks pregnant, whereas 7 (1%) were considered to be more than 20 weeks pregnant. In 401 cases (92%), abortion was performed under Item 2 of the 1967 Abortion Act, although Item 4 was cited in 34 (81%) of those individuals with a pregnancy of greater than 17 weeks duration. Apart from 10 women (2%) in whom severe hemorrhage was documented, the major complication rate was less than 1%. The use of local PGs provides a safe, effective treatment method for therapeutic abortion in the 2nd trimester.