مقایسه انفوزیون خارج آمنیوتیک نرمال سالین و هیدروکورتیزون با شیاف پروستاگلاندین E2 برای ختم حاملگی*

  Background and Aim: Pregnancy termination before onset of labor is one of the midwifery problems. The aim of the present study was to compare extra-amniotic normal saline infusion plus hydrocortisone effect versus prostaglandin E2 suppository for cervical ripening and second- trimester pregnancy termination.   Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical-trial study was performed on 50 pregnant women with gestation age of 14 to 28 weeks and Bishops Score ≤ 2 who required pregnancy termination for fetal indications. Half of the cases received extra-amniotic normal saline infusion plus 100 mg hydrocortisone (EASI+ H) and the other half received two doses of 3mg prostaglandin E2 suppository every 4 hours. Six hours later, induction of labor was started by means of a high dose of Oxytocin according to of Alabama University Protocol for Mid-trimester Abortion. The obtained data was analyzed by using statistical softwares Chi-square, Fisher and T-test.   Results: There were no differences between the two groups regarding maternal age, parity, gestational age, Primary Bishops Score and indication of pregnancy termination. In the EASI+H group, the mean interval between initiation of labor induction and fetal expulsion was 23.04 ± 4.47 hours and in PGE2 group was 28.65 ± 2.87 hours (P=0.001). The success rate in the EASI+H group was 100% and in PGE2 group 80 % (P =0.04). Complications such as fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increase of blood pressure and need to curettage in PGE2 group were statistically and significantly more abundant.   Conclusion: Extra-amniotic normal saline infusion plus hydrocortisone is an effective and safe method that is suggested for cervical ripening and second- trimester pregnancy termination.