Cervical dilatation with 16, 16 dimethyl PGE2 p-benzaldehyde semicarbazone ester prior to vacuum aspiration in first trimester nulliparae

The efficacy of 16, 16 dimethyl PGE₂ p-benzaldehyde semicarbazone ester for cervical dilatation prior to evacuation of the uterus in 180 first trimester nulliparae has been studied. The drug was injected into the muscle of the cervix 3 hours before vacuum aspiration. In 143 patients (80%) the cervix had dilated adequately to enable evacuation of the uterus without mechanical dilatation. In the remaining 37 patients (20%) the cervix had dilated to 6 or 7 mm and additional mechanical dilatation could be performed easily in most of these patients. Side effects consisted of vomiting (11%), diarrhoea (7%), transient pyrexia and shivering (7%). There were no complications in any of the patients and no perforation of the uterus or damage to the cervix resulted during evacuation.