Concurrent use of prostaglandin F2alpha and laminaria tents for induction of midtrimester abortion.

One hundred sixteen women between 14 and 20 weeks of gestation were aborted with a combined regimen of intraamniotic prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) and intracervical laminaria. Complications among these women were compared to those among 122 patients who aborted after PGF2alpha administration only. Shorter intervals between initiation and completion of abortion were observed in nulliparous women treated with the combined regimen than in nulliparous women treated with PGF2alpha only. In parous patients, the use of laminaria did not shorten the interval from initiation to completion of abortion. A decrease of the hematocrit in excess of 5 points and periabortal infection requiring antibiotic therapy occurred with similar frequency in both treatment groups. However, with the combined regimen no cervical tears were observed in nulliparous patients, and fewer women failed to abort within 48 hours.