A comparison of the efficacy of gemeprost vaginal pessaries and extra-amniotic prostaglandin E2 gel in the induction of middle trimester abortion.

Abstract

In an open random allocation trial of 50 patients, 25 had abortion induced vaginally with gemeprost (16.16-dimethyl-trans-delta squared- prostaglandin E1 methyl ester; PGE) 1 mg pessaries inserted into the posterior fornix. The remainder received 7.5 mg PGE2 in a gel inserted into the extraamniotic space. Following the administration of 2 doses of PGE2 gel, abortion was achieved in 100% of the cases within 24 hours, whereas the group treated with a maximum of 3 gemeprost pessaries administered at 3-hour intervals only achieved abortion within 24 hours in 76% of the cases. 3 doses of gemeprost pessaries are the cost equivalent of 2 doses of PGE2 gel.