Midtrimester abortion experience in a community hospital.

The midtrimester abortion experience in a community hospital serving a population of approximately 250,000 people was reviewed over a four-year period. During the 48-month study period, 744 patients were aborted, utilizing intra-amniotic infusion of hypertonic saline and/or prostaglandins F(2)A augmented by a weak pitocin infusion. The combination of 20 percent saline, prostaglandins F(2)A preoperative placement of intracervical laminaria, and pitocin augmentation was found to be most efficacious, resulting in an average injection to abortion time of 10.5 hours and reduction of hospital stay from three to two days. The established protocol is reviewed.