Second-trimester membrane rupture. Abortion induced with prostaglandin E2 after oxytocin failure.

OBJECTIVE: To test an effective method of terminating second-trimester pregnancy with ruptured membranes in women who fail to abort from an oxytocin infusion. STUDY DESIGN: Five patients with rupture of membranes during the second trimester of pregnancy and failed to abort using the traditional method of intravenous oxytocin infusion were treated with intrauterine instillation of prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) solution through a double-balloon device. RESULTS: All five patients aborted within 8.8±4.5 hours from the beginning of PGE 2 instillation. No major complications occurred. The only side effect was short-duration pyrexia (less than 48 hours). CONCLUSION: Use of the double-balloon device and intrauterine instillation of PGE 2 was effective for termination of pregnancy in patients with rupture of membranes who do not respond to oxytocin.