Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Published on: November 20, 2015
Second trimester pregnancy termination using extra-amniotic ethacridine lactate
R K Bhathena1, N K Sheriar, V R Walvekar
1Wadia Maternity Hospital, Bombay, India.
Objective:
To investigate the efficacy of ethacridine lactate by the extra-amniotic route for second trimester pregnancy termination and its associated complications.
Design:
Retrospective study of women undergoing second trimester termination, over 3 1/2 years, with extra-amniotic ethacridine alone, or extra-amniotic ethacridine supplemented later by extra-amniotic 15-methyl prostaglandin F2 alpha.
Setting:
Teaching hospital in Bombay.
Patients:
315 consecutive women undergoing late abortions with extra-amniotic ethacridine. Demographic features were similar in the two groups.
Interventions:
In group 1, 207 women had 150 ml 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 micrograms (1 ml) of 15-methyl prostaglandin F2 alpha.
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 less than 0.001). The corrected complication rate was less than 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 induction-abortion interval can be appreciably reduced by supplementary prostaglandin.
