Abortion during mid-pregnancy by rivanol-catheter supplemented with PGF2 alpha drip-infusion or quinine...

Abortion during mid-pregnancy was performed in 200 patients by extra-amniotic insertion of Nelaton catheters and instillation of 0.1% rivanol solution. To shorten the abortion time, quinine hydrochloride was given orally in one group (n=100), and intravenous infusion of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) was undertaken in the other group (n=100). The abortion rate after 72 hours was higher in the PGF2 alpha group (96%) than that in the quinine group (91%), but the difference was not statistically significant. The abortion time was significantly shorter in the PGF2 alpha group than in the quinine group (p less than 0.01). This method, together with supplementary treatment with oxytocic substances, proved to be an effective mid-pregnancy abortion method. The risks of endometritis, gastro-intestinal complications, and/or heavy bleeding either during or post-abortive were minimal.