Open AccessWhich factors influence the number of gemeprost pessaries used in inducing second‐trimester abortions?
Author(s) -
Kaasen Anne,
NÆs Tormod,
Haugen Guttorm
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1111/j.0001-6349.2005.00503.x
Subject(s) - medicine , abortion , obstetrics , pregnancy , gynecology , induced abortions , population , research methodology , family planning , genetics , environmental health , biology
Background. The course of second‐trimester abortions with the intention to use gemeprost as the only abortifacient is described. Methods. The report is based on 278 consecutive second‐trimester abortions, excluding missed abortions, during a 12‐year period in a tertiary referral center. The women were treated with 1 mg gemeprost pessaries every fourth hour with a maximum of five applications during 24 h. If abortion had not occurred, a new treatment of gemeprost was prescribed after an interval of 12 h. Results. The median number of gemeprost pessaries used was 4 (range 1–16) and the mean number (±SD) 4.09 (±1.90). Abortion occurred within 24 h in 78% of the women and within 48 h in 96%. The efficiency of gemeprost was highly dependent on previous vaginal deliveries ( p < 0.001), with a mean number of applications of 4.63 (±2.04), 3.93 (±1.74), and 3.13 (±1.26) in those with none, one, and two or more previous vaginal deliveries, respectively. Previous spontaneous abortions were associated with a lower number of applications. Including previous vaginal deliveries and spontaneous abortions in a two‐way analysis of variance ( anova ), only the number of spontaneous abortions was marginally significant ( p = 0.05). After excluding four patients with three or more spontaneous abortions from the analysis, the number of previous vaginal deliveries was significant ( p = 0.010) whereas that of spontaneous abortions became nonsignificant. Postprocedure complications were reported in 13% of the women. Conclusion. The course of the abortions was dependent on previous vaginal deliveries and spontaneous abortions.