HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by BEN-ARIE, A. Articles by HAGAY, Z. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by BEN-ARIE, A. Articles by HAGAY, Z.

Safety of Extraovular Catheter Insertion for Second-Trimester Abortion

From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel. Affiliated with the Hebrew University and Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel.

Address reprint requests to: Alon Ben-Arie, MD Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Kaplan Medical Center 76100 Rehovot Israel E-mail: alon5360{at}zahav.net.il

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of second-trimester abortions using transcervical catheter insertion and extraovular prostaglandin (PG) administration.

Methods: Ninety women admitted for terminations of pregnancy at 17–24 weeks’ gestation had transcervical catheters inserted and extraovular PGE₂ administered. Success rates were recorded, measured by induction of abortion within 24 hours, need for a complement uterine curettage, and complications.

Results: The technique induced abortion in 67 women (74.4%). The induction-to-abortion median interval was 12 hours (7 and 22 hours, fifth and 95th percentiles, respectively). Thirty-seven women needed uterine curettages because of incomplete abortions or excessive uterine bleeding after fetal and placenta expulsion. One woman had shivering, weakness, and nausea attributed to systemic absorption of PG, and nine women developed systemic inflammatory response syndrome associated with transcervical catheter insertion. Two of those women had septic shock, one of whom deteriorated to a life-threatening situation.

Conclusion: Transcervical catheter insertion for extraovular PG administration is effective for inducing second-trimester abortions. Although the method is considered safe, with generally few mild, treatable complications, we observed a high rate of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, bacteremia, and sepsis caused by transcervical catheter insertion before PG administration. A reconsideration of this method’s safety is warranted.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Leader, M. Bujnovsky, S. J. Carlan, T. Triana, and K. Richichi Effect of Oral Misoprostol After Second-Trimester Delivery: A Randomized, Blinded Study Obstet. Gynecol., October 1, 2002; 100(4): 689 - 694. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]