A comparative study of ethacridine lactate with vaginal misoprostol versus vaginal misoprostol alone for mid trimester abortion

Introduction: Mid-trimester termination of pregnancy is one of the most controversial areas of gynaecological practice. It has moral, emotional, social and technical issues. There is continuous need for termination of pregnancy in second trimester, more recently due to increase in the use of antenatal diagnostic procedures. The objective of the present study is to compare acceptability, safety, efficacy, complications and induction-abortion interval of ethacridine lactate with vaginal misoprostol versus vaginal misoprostol alone for mid trimester abortion Materials and methods: This was a comparative study s200 women of 13-20 weeks pregnancy were randomized in two groups. Out of these 100 patients were selected at random for intravaginal misoprostol 400 μg stat followed by 200 μg misoprostol P/V 4th hourly and 100 cases for extra amniotic ethacridine lactate instillation with tablet misoprostol 400 μg Stat followed by tablet misoprostol 200 μg 4th hourly. The relative efficacy, induction- abortion interval, complications of each was studied. Results: The patients studied belong to all categories of marital status, married, and unmarried, widowed. The age ranged from 15-34 years. The gestational age from 14-20 weeks most of them were primi para. Mean induction abortion interval with misoprostol is 15.2 hours while that of emcredil with misoprostol is 16.44 hours. Success rate with misoprostol is 94% while that of emcredil with misoprostol is 95%. Incomplete abortion with misoprostol 2% while that of emcredil with misoprostol 1%. No major complications are noted in both the methods. Conclusion: Misoprostol is safer, more effective and acceptable than ethacridine for mid trimester termination of pregnancy.