Cervical dilatation in late first trimester termination by prostaglandin, hylase and isogel

Pre-operative dilatation of the cervix was attempted in 223 cases prior to vacuum aspiration in patients seeking late first trimester termination beyond ten weeks. 15 Me PGF_2a was used in the form of vaginal suppositories, intramuscular and intracervical injections. Dilatation of cervix of 10 mm or more was achieved within 4 hours in 86% cases with intra-cervical injections. Gastro-intestinal disturbances caused by intra-muscular injections could be avoided by intra-cervical injections, as the amount of prostaglandin required was only 100 ugm, but the success rate was significantly lower. The success with multiple dose suppositories was 80%. There was no significant difference in the success with 1.5 mgm or 1.0 mgm dosage, but the side effects were significantly higher with 1.5 mgm suppositories.

Intra-cervical Hylase did not dilate the cervix but successfully softened it within 5 minutes to make metallic dilatation simple. The hygroscopic Isogel tents achieved dilatation of 10 mm or more in 73% of the patients in 12 hours. The tents as well as intracervical prostaglandin injection had the disadvantage of requiring an additional theatre procedure prior to suction curettage.