Termination of midtrimester pregnancies induced by hypertonic saline and prostaglandin F2 alpha 116 consecutive cases.

In 116 patients, abortion was induced in midtrimester by intra-amniotic administration of 20% hypertonic saline and 25 mg prostaglandin F2 alpha. Within 60 hours 113 aborted (success rate 97.4%). Of these 68.1% had aborted within 24 hours and 92.9% within 48 hours. Thirteen patients who had not aborted within 24 or 48 hours were treated with oxytocin drip. It is concluded that the combination studied is an effective abortifacient in midtrimester and that the injection-abortion time is reasonable, the great majority aborting within 48 hours. No live fetuses were delivered, and the complication rate was acceptable.