Comparison of Extra-Amniotic Administration of PGF2α, 0.9 Per Cent Saline, and 20 Per Cent Saline Followed by Oxytocin for Therapeutic Abortion

168 patients between 1Oth and 18th week of pregnancy admitted to hospital for legal abortion were treated accordingly to three different protocols.In group I comprising 80 women, repeated instillations of PGF2α were administered, extra-amniotically, through a Foley catheter. Within 30 hours abortion occurred or evacuation was performed without dilatation of the cervix in 85 per cent of the women. Slight side-effects (vomiting, diarrhoea and flushing) were noted in 47 (i.e. 59 per cent) of the women.In group II comprising only 8 women, a Foley catheter was introduced into the extra-amniotic space and repeated instillations of 0.9 per cent sterile saline were given. After 30 hours no abortions had occurred in this group. In five nulli-paras the cervical os was closed after treatment, while the cervix was dilated in 2 of 3 women, who had earlier delivered a baby. In these two women evacuation of the uterus was performed without surgical dilatation. A Foley catheter itself placed above the internal orifice wa...