Abortion at midpregnancy by catheter or catheter-balloon supplemented by intravenous oxytocin and PGF2 alpha.

Abortion during midpregnancy was performed in 80 patients by mechanical stretching of the uterus. In one group (n = 40) two Nelaton catheters and in the other group (n = 40) a Nelaton catheter with a small balloon attached to its end were inserted in the extra-amniotic space. In the latter group the balloon was inflated with 150 or 200 ml of physiologic saline solution. In both groups the patients were subdivided into early (n = 20) and late midterm groups (n = 20). In all cases oxytocin plus prostaglandin F2 alpha drip infusion was given as a supplement. Abortion time was significantly shorter in the catheter-balloon group than that in the catheter group (p less than 0.005), and in the late midterm group than in the early midterm group (p less than 0.01). The risk of endometritis during treatment with chemoprophylaxis was low. X-ray studies revealed that the catheter stimulates various unspecified regions of the uterus, elevates its excitability, and causes regular uterine contractions.