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A comparison of prostaglandin E 2 pessaries and laminaria tents for ripening the cervix before termination of pregnancy
Author(s) -
KILLICK S. R.,
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS C. A.,
ELSTEIN MAX
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1985.tb01358.x
Subject(s) - laminaria , cervix , pessary , medicine , ripening , pregnancy , obstetrics , gestation , gynecology , biology , cancer , genetics , food science , algae , ecology
Summary. Forty primigravid womcn aged 15–45 years were randomly allocated to receive either an intravaginal pessary of 3 mg prostaglandin E, (PGE 2 ) or an intracervical 5‐mm laminaria tent (LT) 12–16 h before termination of pregnancy at 6–14 weeks gestation. The degree of dilatation of the cervix a t operation and its resistance t o further dilatation during the procedure were assessed by a ‘blind’ operator. Laminaria tents were more effective in achieving dilatation and softening of the cervix than were PGE 2 pessaries and in 40% of women no further dilatation was necessary. There were no associated side‐effects or complications. A cervical tear occurred in two of 20 patients treated with PGE 2 pessaries and all 20 required further dilatation of the cervix. Laminaria tents provide a simple. safe, acceptable and effective means of ‘ripening’ the cervix prior to termination of early pregnancy.