Therapeutic abortion by intra-amniotic injection of prostaglandins.

Intra-amniotic injection of either prostaglandin F(2)alpha or prostaglandin E(2) was used in an attempt to induce therapeutic abortion in mid-pregnancy in 27 patients. Termination of pregnancy was successful in 11 out of 13 cases when prostaglandin E(2) alone was used, but in only 6 out of 14 cases when prostaglandin F(2)alpha was used. A further eight patients aborted after additional intravenous oxytocin stimulation, but the combined procedures failed altogether in two patients who were initially given prostaglandin F(2)alpha. The technique was simple, free from serious side effects, and reasonably effective when prostaglandin E(2) was used.