Comparison of Dilapan-S and laminaria for cervical priming before surgical pregnancy termination at 17-22 weeks' gestation

• Published in: International journal of women's health 2011-01, Vol.3, p.347-352
• Main Authors: Chambers, Dennis G, Willcourt, Robin J, Laver, Anthony R, Baird, Jane K, Herbert, Wye Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abortion; Analysis; Civilian evacuation; Digoxin; Medical records; Original Research; Pregnancy; Pregnant women; Surgery; Tents
• ISSN: 1179-1411; 1179-1411
• DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S25551

A retrospective analysis of medical records of three consecutive cohorts of women. All cohorts received a digoxin feticide injection on Day 1. Two cohorts were treated with laminaria, cohort A of 151 women over 1-2 days and cohort B of 52 women over 1-3 days, and cohort C of 151 women was treated with Dilapan-S over 1-3 days. Adequate cervical priming for dilatation and evacuation (D&E) on Day 2 was achieved in 98% of the Dilapan-S cohort and 56% of cohort A and 40% of the cohort B laminaria cohorts. Return to theater for D&E 3-4 hours after dilator insertion on Day 2 occurred in 62.3% of Dilapan-S cohort C and 9.3% of cohort A and 4% of cohort B laminaria cohorts (P = 0.001). A mean D&E theater time of 19 minutes for laminaria cohort A was reduced by 10.1% in the Dilapan-S cohort C (P = 0.02). The incidence of unscheduled overnight delivery outside the clinic was 0% for Dilapan-S and 1.3% for cohort A and 3.8% for cohort B laminaria cohorts (P = 0.14). Dilapan-S osmotic dilators are superior to laminaria in producing more cervical priming and dilatation in a shorter time. This enables 17-22 week D&E procedures to be carried out in fewer days and in shorter theater times. They also eliminate the risk of an unscheduled overnight delivery outside the clinic.