Examination of gestations and deliveries subsequent to rivanol-induced interruption of first trimester pregnancies.

The pregnancies and deliveries of 550 parturient women were studied. The women previously had undergone interruption of pregnancy induced by Rivanol predilatation of the cervical canal. As controls served the data of 557 pregnancies and deliveries in which the pregnant women had formerly undergone invasive interruption of pregnancy. In addition the data of further 531 women were studied whose last delivery occurred before term or of a small for dates baby. The examinations showed that the necessitating cerclage occurrence of cervical incompetence was significantly lower in pregnancies following non-invasive interruption than after those following invasive interruption. There were no differences in the start and course of delivery and in the number of complications that could be traced back to the method of interruption. There was no difference in the intactness, site of adherence, separation and gross structure of the placenta. The condition of neonates at delivery was similar in the two groups. On the other hand, in the group of invasive interruptions the proportion of neonates that needed medical treatment was higher. An important observation was that after non-invasive interruption the proportion of preterm and small for dates births was significantly lower. These findings may be important in everyday practice.