Lntracervical Tents

Abstract

PIP: Topical prostaglandins and intracervical tents at present comprise the most widely used methods for priming of the cervix before surgery. While tents and prostaglandins are comparable in terms of shortening the time interval between labor induction and delivery, tents do not initiate powerful myometrial contractions and thus are not associated with the complication of uterine hypertonus. In early abortion, tents are regarded as superior to prostaglandins, estrogen, and relaxin. In the midtrimester abortion, however, best results are achieved through the combined use of tents and prostaglandins. This approach facilitates a shorter abortion time, a lesser risk of sepsis, and use of a lower dose of prostaglandin. The effect of the particular type of tent selected--Clamicel, Dilapan, or Laminaria--is related to the initial state of the cervix, with the best results achieved in the soft patulous cervix of young pregnant women. Laminaria tents are declining in popularity as a result of their lengthy duration of action, unreliability, pain, or insertion and as the tent expands, and need for several insertions of multiple tents. The synthetic Dilapan tent does not share the disadvantages of inconsistency, long duration of action, and risk of sepsis, but tends to fragment and fracture so that the distal portion remains within the uterus. Lamicel, a polyvinyl alcohol sponge impregnated with magnesium sulfate, has a less impressive speed of action than Dilapan (3 hours and 2 hours, respectively), yet its softness makes it easy to withdraw without fragmentation or fracture. Lamicel has been used successfully in 1st-trimester abortion, before induction of labor or IUD insertion, for hysteroscopy and removal of lost IUDs, and in formal diagnostic curettage.