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

Background. A comparison of ethacridine lactate and prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) 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 PGE 2 group ( n = 30), ethacridine lactate group ( n 48), ethacridine lactate combined with oxytocin infusion group ( n =49) and PGE 2 combined with oxytocin infusion group ( n =24). Rates of successful abortion (i.e., complete evacuation of fetal and placental tissxies from the uterus) within 24 hours for each group were determined and compared by x 2 and the Student r‐test. Results. Statistically significant difference concerning successful abortion rates was observed between ethacridine lactate and PGE 2 groups, PGE 2 and PGE 2 +oxytocin infusion groups, and ethacridine lactate+oxytocin infusion and PGE 2 groups, while there was no significant difference between ethacridine lactate and ethacridine lactate+oxytocin infusion groups, ethacridine lactate and PGE 2 +oxytocin infusion groups, and PGE 2 +oxytocin infusion and ethacridine lactate+oxytocin infusion groups. Conclusions. Extra‐amniotic ethacridine lactate instillation alone and intracervical PGE 2 gel application are effective and safe methods for second trimester abortion.