Comparison of ethacridine lactate and prostaglandin E2 in second trimester medical abortion

Abstract

Background: A comparison of ethacridine lactate and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) with or without oxytocin infusion in second trimester medical abortion cases.

Methods: A prospective study was performed on 151 women requiring second trimester medical abortions between 1989 and 1995. Patients were randomly assigned to PGE2 group (n = 30), ethacridine lactate group (n = 48), ethacridine lactate combined with oxytocin infusion group (n = 49) and PGE2 combined with oxytocin infusion group (n = 24). Rates of successful abortion (i.e., complete evacuation of fetal and placental tissues from the uterus) within 24 hours for each group were determined and compared by chi2 and the Student t-test.

Results: Statistically significant difference concerning successful abortion rates was observed between ethacridine lactate and PGE2 groups, PGE2 and PGE2+oxytocin infusion groups, and ethacridine lactate+oxytocin infusion and PGE2 groups, while there was no significant difference between ethacridine lactate and ethacridine lactate+oxytocin infusion groups, ethacridine lactate and PGE2+oxytocin infusion groups, and PGE2+oxytocin infusion and ethacridine lactate+oxytocin infusion groups.

Conclusions: Extra-amniotic ethacridine lactate instillation alone and intracervical PGE2 gel application are effective and safe methods for second trimester abortion.