Application of the Potentiating Effect of Prostaglandin E₂ and Oxytocin to Induced Second Trimester Abortion

Summary Termination of pregnancy was performed in 28 patients who were 11 to 22 weeks pregnant by the simultaneous administration of intravenous oxytocin and intrauterine (extra–amniotic) prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ). Abortion occurred in a mean time of 10.1 hours (range 5.5 to 18.3 hours). In seven additional patients PGE 2 alone was inserted into the extra–amniotic space. Abortion occurred in each patient and the mean induction–abortion interval was 21.3 hours (range 13 to 33 hours). There were no troublesome side effects in this series.