Surgical abortion service reorganization in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: a unique experience of attending second trimester D&E procedures under spinal anesthesia as emergency procedures.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic created a massive shift in how health care systems interact with COVID testing for patients. To avoid delay in accessing second trimester surgical abortion at our hospital (St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College) during this pandemic, dilation and evacuation (D&E) procedures were attended as emergency cases, instead of as elective surgical procedures, which then required adherence to the universal preoperative COVID-19 testing protocol. This study aimed at documenting the experience of this unique abortion service adjustment in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from April 1, 2021 to July 31, 2021. We reviewed second trimester surgical abortion cases managed with D& E procedures, performed under spinal anesthesia using the emergency COVID-19 pre-operative testing protocol. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 and simple descriptive statistics were applied. Percentages and proportions were used to present the results. Results: Nineteen cases of second trimester D&E cases were reviewed. The median gestational age of the abortion clients was 21.57 weeks. Eight of 19 cases had cervical preparation with overnight intra-cervical Foley catheter placement while the rest 11 (57.9%) cases had their cervical preparation with Laminaria. The median time interval from initial evaluation of the abortion client to time of doing D& E procedure was 21.83 h. Conclusion: Surgical abortion service reorganization enabled abortion clients to access dilation and evacuation procedures within 24 h of their initial presentation. This prevented significant delays in accessing abortion care that could otherwise have occurred as a result of adhering to the preoperative COVID-19 testing protocols applied to elective surgeries.

Abortion Provision and Delays to Care in a Clinic Network in Washington State After Dobbs.

Importance: The Supreme Court decision Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization (Dobbs) overturned federal protections to abortion care and altered the reproductive health care landscape. Thus far, aggregated state-level data reveal increases in the number of abortions in states where abortion is still legal, but there is limited information on delays to care and changes in the characteristics of people accessing abortion in these states after Dobbs. Objective: To examine changes in abortion provision and delays to care after Dobbs. Design, Setting, and Participants: Retrospective cohort study of all abortions performed at an independent, high-volume reproductive health care clinic network in Washington state from January 1, 2017, to July 31, 2023. Using an interrupted time series, the study assessed changes in abortion care after Dobbs. Exposure: Abortion care obtained after (June 24, 2022, to July 31, 2023) vs before (January 1, 2017, to June 23, 2022) Dobbs. Main Outcome and Measure: Primary outcomes included weekly number of abortions and out-of-state patients and weekly average of gestational duration (days) and time to appointment (days). Results: Among the 18 379 abortions during the study period, most were procedural (13 192 abortions [72%]) and funded by public insurance (11 412 abortions [62%]). The mean (SD) age of individuals receiving abortion care was 28.5 (6.44) years. Following Dobbs, the number of procedural abortions per week increased by 6.35 (95% CI, 2.83-9.86), but then trended back toward pre-Dobbs levels. The number of out-of-state patients per week increased by 2 (95% CI, 1.1-3.6) and trends remained stable. The average gestational duration per week increased by 6.9 (95% CI, 3.6-10.2) days following Dobbs, primarily due to increased gestations of procedural abortions. The average gestational duration among out-of-state patients did not change following Dobbs, but it did increase by 6 days for in-state patients (5.9; 95% CI, 3.2-8.6 days). There were no significant changes in time to appointment. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings provide a detailed picture of changes in abortion provision and delays to care after Dobbs in a state bordering a total ban state. In this study, more people traveled from out of state to receive care and in-state patients sought care a week later in gestation. These findings can inform interventions and policies to improve access for all seeking abortion care.

Supported at-home abortion: An exploratory study of methods, outcomes, and motivations of community-led abortion care in the United States and Canada.

OBJECTIVES: This an exploratory study aimed to describe methods and outcomes of comprehensive community-led abortion care in the United States and Canada. STUDY DESIGN: This community-based participatory research study recruited community abortion providers from the United States and Canada through existing confidential networks. They participated through in-person and online collaboration to design and implement a data collection tool for abortion methods, outcomes, and motivations from clients. We implemented significant security measures to protect participant confidentiality. RESULTS: Thirty community providers were recruited, five withdrew, and 12 provided data for 167 at-home abortions. Most abortions occurred between 6 and 10 weeks (104 [62%]). Abortions between 13 and 21 weeks represent 39 cases (23%). Misoprostol only was the most common method (n = 125 [75%]), followed by herbs alone (n = 12 [7%]) and aspiration (n = 12 [7%]). Complications were rare (n = 3 [1.8%]), with 163 complete abortions (98%). The primary motivation for seeking community-led abortion care was avoiding a clinic. CONCLUSIONS: Community providers employed various abortion methods with safety and effectiveness profiles comparable to those reported for clinical and community-based abortion care. Clients wanting a different model of abortion care seek out community-led abortions, regardless of whether clinics are legal and accessible. IMPLICATIONS: Community-led abortion is a viable choice for patients. Community providers should be recognized for their contributions to abortion access and high-quality, person-centered care. This study demonstrates a broader range of abortion providers and diverse options meeting the need for individualized abortion care.

Second-trimester dilatation and evacuation: Comparison of routine intraoperative ultrasonography versus problem-based intraoperative ultrasonography in reducing procedure-related complications: A pre-post study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether routine intraoperative ultrasonographic guidance during second-trimester dilatation and evacuation (D&E) reduces procedure-related complications in an Ethiopian setting. METHODS: We conducted a pre-post study on routine ultrasonography during second-trimester D&E at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College (Ethiopia). Second-trimester D&E cases that were managed at the hospital between 2017 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed by grouping them into an intervention group (using routine ultrasound intraoperatively for all cases) and a non-intervention group (problem-based intraoperative use of ultrasound, where ultrasound was used in problem cases only). SPSS version 23 was used for analysis and simple descriptive statistics, χ2 test, multivariate regression analysis, and Fisher exact test were performed as appropriate. P values less than 0.05 and odds ratio with 95% CI were used to present the results' significance. RESULTS: A total of 242 second-trimester D&E cases were analyzed (84 cases managed under routine intraoperative ultrasound guidance and 158 cases managed with a problem-based intraoperative use of ultrasound). Compared with problem-based intraoperative use of ultrasound (using it only in selected cases), routine intraoperative ultrasound use was not associated with a decrease in D&E complications (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04-1.16). The two factors associated with increased D&E procedure complications were advanced gestational age (aOR 13.52, 95% CI 1.86-98.52), and need for additional mechanical cervical dilatation during the D&E procedure (aOR 9.53, 95% CI 1.32-69.07). Provider experience, cervical preparation methods (laminaria vs Foley), and maternal age were not associated with occurrence of D&E complications. CONCLUSION: Our study does not support the preference of routine intraoperative ultrasound guidance over problem-based (in selected cases) intraoperative ultrasound use during the second-trimester D&E procedure. More research is needed to make a strong clinical recommendation on using routine intraoperative ultrasound guidance during all second-trimester D&E procedures.

Localization and removal of nonpalpable contraceptive implants: Experience from a teaching hospital in Ethiopia: A case series.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcome of women presenting with nonpalpable contraceptive implants to a referral center in Ethiopia. In addition, we discuss our approach and experience with localization and removal of nonpalpable contraceptive implants. METHODS: We conducted a facility-based retrospective review of patients evaluated for a nonpalpable contraceptive implant between September 2019 and March 2022 at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. SPHMMC is a tertiary teaching hospital with Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) residency as well as a Family Planning fellowship program. The present study was approved by the institutional review board of SPHMMC. RESULTS: Of the 68 patients reviewed, 48 were referred from other facilities. A total of 24 (35.3%) patients had at least one previous failed attempt at removal before referral. On ultrasound examination, 27 (40.3%) implants were found below the muscle fascia. Implant removal procedures were successfully done at the outpatient clinic in 65 (95.6%) patients including 40/40 (100%) suprafascial and 25/27 (92.6%) subfascial implants. Removal of subfascial implants was performed in the operating room in two patients. We failed to localize the device in one patient currently on follow-up. All removals were performed by OBGYNs with subspecialty training in family planning or current fellows supervised by subspecialists. No post-procedure complications have been documented. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that with meticulous evaluation and careful patient selection, localization and removal of nonpalpable implants in outpatient settings are successful. Initial ultrasonography minimizes delays and allows for same-day implant localization and removal.

One-day versus two-day mifepristone-misoprostol interval prior to initiation of misoprostol during late second trimester medication abortion: A cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare one-day versus two-day mifepristone-misoprostol interval in late second trimester medication abortion. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, in Ethiopia. Data were collected retrospectively and analysed with SPSS 23 using simple descriptive analysis, t-test, Chi-squared test, and regression analysis, as appropriate. P-value < 0.05 and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% CI were used to present results significance. RESULTS: A total of 282 women who had medication abortion in the late second trimester (167 with one-day and 115 with two-day mifepristone-misoprostol intervals) at 20-28 weeks of gestation were analysed. Both median and mean induction to expulsion interval (I-E) were much higher in the one-day mifepristone-misoprostol (mife-miso) interval than in the two-day mife-miso interval group. The median (and mean) I-E in the one-day interval group was 24 hours (21.9+/-6.6 hours) compared to 12 hours (14.6+/-8.8 hours) in the two-day mife-miso interval group (p-value < 0.001). Expulsion rate within 12 hours of starting misoprostol was significantly higher in the two-day cohort than in the one-day cohort (73% vs 25.6%, p-value < 0.001, aOR = 19.08 95%, CI = 5.1-70.7). CONCLUSIONS: For second trimester medication abortion at later gestation, a two-day mifepristone-to-misoprostol interval significantly reduces induction to expulsion time compared to a one-day interval. IMPLICATIONS: Compared to one-day interval, administration of mifepristone two days prior to misoprostol initiation has a shorter interval of induction to expulsion and a higher rate of abortion completion within 12 hours of initiation of misoprostol during late second trimester medication abortion.

Pregnancy loss and risk of incident CVD within 5 years: Findings from the Women's Health Initiative.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women with a history of pregnancy loss. Less is known about whether pregnancy loss is associated with age at the onset of CVD, but this is a question of interest, as a demonstrated association of pregnancy loss with early-onset CVD may provide clues to the biological basis of the association, as well as having implications for clinical care. We conducted an age-stratified analysis of pregnancy loss history and incident CVD in a large cohort of postmenopausal women aged 50-79 years old. Methods: Associations between a history of pregnancy loss and incident CVD were examined among participants in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Exposures were any history of pregnancy loss (miscarriage and/or stillbirth), recurrent (2+) loss, and a history of stillbirth. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between pregnancy loss and incident CVD within 5 years of study entry in three age strata (50-59, 69-69, and 70-79). Outcomes of interest were total CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), congestive heart failure, and stroke. To assess the risk of early onset CVD, Cox proportional hazard regression was used to examine incident CVD before the age of 60 in a subset of subjects aged 50-59 at study entry. Results: After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, a history of stillbirth was associated with an elevated risk of all cardiovascular outcomes in the study cohort within 5 years of study entry. Interactions between age and pregnancy loss exposures were not significant for any cardiovascular outcome; however, age-stratified analyses demonstrated an association between a history of stillbirth and risk of incident CVD within 5 years in all age groups, with the highest point estimate seen in women aged 50-59 (OR 1.99; 95% CI, 1.16-3.43). Additionally, stillbirth was associated with incident CHD among women aged 50-59 (OR 3.12; 95% CI, 1.33-7.29) and 60-69 (OR 2.06; 95% CI, 1.24-3.43) and with incident heart failure and stroke among women aged 70-79. Among women aged 50-59 with a history of stillbirth, a non-significantly elevated hazard ratio was observed for heart failure before the age of 60 (HR 2.93, 95% CI, 0.96-6.64). Conclusions: History of stillbirth was strongly associated with a risk of cardiovascular outcomes within 5 years of baseline in a cohort of postmenopausal women aged 50-79. History of pregnancy loss, and of stillbirth in particular, might be a clinically useful marker of cardiovascular disease risk in women.

CDC-Supported National Network of Farmworker-Serving Organizations to Mitigate COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has partnered with the National Center for Farmworker Health to respond to the impact of COVID-19 on US farmworker communities. Immigrant farmworkers are often isolated from public health infrastructure. This partnership built the capacity of a national network of organizations to connect farmworkers to COVID-19 education and vaccinations in 20 states through training and resource sharing. The partnership funded 194 network member staff, trained 1130 individuals, and supported COVID-19 outreach to more than 600 000 farmworkers. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(2):166-169. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307159).

Foley catheter for cervical preparation prior to second trimester dilation and evacuation: A supply-based alternative for surgical abortion: A case series.

Objective: To document the use of Foley catheter as an alternative to osmotic dilators for cervical preparation before second trimester dilation and evacuation at a tertiary setting in Ethiopia. Methods: This is a retrospective case series conducted at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College (Ethiopia) from April 1, 2021 to August 30, 2021. Forty-three cases of dilation and evacuation (D&E) in which overnight intra-cervical Foley catheter placement was used to prepare the cervix were reviewed. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23 and simple descriptive statistics were applied to analyze the clinical characteristics of study subjects and procedure outcomes. Percentages and frequencies were used to present the findings. Results: The calculated median gestational age was 21.4(17-24.2) weeks. Around 40%(17/43) of cases had cervical dilation of 3 to 4 cm, with another 33% (14/43) achieving cervical dilation of 1.5 to 2.5 cm. Additional dilation during the procedure was required only in 12 cases (28%) prior to D&E procedure. In 36 cases (84%), the procedure was attended by family planning fellow. Conclusion: Cervical preparation using overnight Foley catheter before second-trimester D&E resulted in majority of the cases requiring no additional dilation immediately prior to D&E procedure. Where osmotic dilators are not available, Foley catheter can be an alternative method to prepare the cervix prior to D&E procedures. Implications: In the absence of osmotic dilators, Foley catheter can be used as an alternate, and readily available means of cervical preparation for second trimester D&E procedures.

Effectiveness of intra-cardiac lidocaine and intra-amniotic digoxin at inducing fetal demise before second trimester abortion past 20 weeks at a tertiary Hospital in Ethiopia: A retrospective review.

Background: Current literature recommends inducing fetal demise prior to second trimester medication abortion beyond 20 weeks of gestation. There is inadequate literature regarding the practice and effectiveness of this procedure in low-income countries, such as Ethiopia. This study aimed at documenting the effectiveness of intra-cardiac lidocaine and intra-amniotic digoxin at inducing fetal demise before second trimester medication abortion in an Ethiopian setting. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review conducted at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, in Ethiopia. A total of 65 cases of feticide administration before 2nd trimester medication abortion between 20 and 28 weeks of gestation (From April 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021) were reviewed. The primary outcome was cessation of fetal cardiac activity the day after the first feticide injection. Data were extracted by reviewing maternal charts using a data extraction tool prepared in English. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Simple descriptive statistics were used to analyze baseline characteristics and fetal demise outcomes. Results were presented in percentages and frequencies. Results: More than three quarters of the feticide injections were with intra-amniotic digoxin, while the rest (24.6%, 16/65) were with intra-cardiac lidocaine. Injection of digoxin or lidocaine was effective at inducing fetal demise the day after administration in 92.3% (60/65) of the cases. Intracardiac lidocaine administration was 100% (16/16) effective at inducing fetal demise within the day after the injection while the effectiveness of digoxin within the same period was 89.8%. Conclusion: In this study, both intra-amniotic digoxin and intra-cardiac lidocaine were effective at inducing fetal demise, which is in support of findings from similar previous studies. Implications: In an Ethiopian setting, both intra-amniotic digoxin and intra-cardiac lidocaine injections are effective at inducing fetal demise before second trimester abortion beyond 20 weeks of gestation within the next day after feticide administration.

Ketamine Compared With Fentanyl for Surgical Abortion: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare patient satisfaction with anesthesia after first-trimester surgical abortion among patients receiving intravenous (IV) ketamine compared with IV fentanyl for procedural sedation. METHODS: This was a randomized noninferiority trial comparing IV ketamine to IV fentanyl for first-trimester surgical abortion up to 13 6/7 weeks of gestation. Patients were randomized to receive either ketamine 200-500 micrograms/kg IV over 2 minutes, repeated every 5 minutes until appropriate analgesia was achieved, or fentanyl 0.5-1 micrograms/kg IV over 2 minutes, repeated every 5 minutes until appropriate analgesia was achieved. All patients received midazolam 2 mg IV. The primary outcome, patient satisfaction, was measured using the Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale immediately postprocedure. Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain, additional pain medication necessary during the procedure and on discharge, physician satisfaction, and time to discharge. We calculated a sample size of 84 with a noninferiority margin of 0.6 on the Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale with 80% power, one-sided type 1 error of 0.025, and further increased this number to 110 to account for potential dropout. RESULTS: From April to October 2021, 184 patients were screened and 110 were randomized (57 to ketamine and 53 to fentanyl). Demographics were similar between groups. The primary outcome, patient satisfaction with anesthesia, was noninferior in the ketamine group (mean score 2.4, SD 0.8) as compared with the fentanyl group (mean score 2.2, SD 0.9) with a risk difference of 0.20 (95% CI 0.11-0.52). More hallucinations were reported in the ketamine group. Otherwise, secondary outcomes were similar between the groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with IV fentanyl, IV ketamine is noninferior for patient satisfaction with anesthesia when used for procedural sedation for first-trimester outpatient surgical abortion. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT04871425.

Society of Family Planning committee consensus on Rh testing in early pregnancy.

Historical evidence that fetal red blood cell (RBC) exposure during early spontaneous or induced abortion can cause maternal Rh sensitization is limited. A close reading of these studies indicates that forgoing Rh immunoglobulin administration before 12weeks gestation is highly unlikely to increase risk of Rh (D) antibody development, and recent studies indicate that fetal RBC exposure during aspiration abortion <12 weeks gestation is below the calculated threshold to cause maternal Rh sensitization, and the amount of fetomaternal hemorrhage during dilation and evacuation procedures up to 18weeks gestation is adequately treated with 100mcg of Rh immunoglobulin. We provide updated recommendations for Rh immunoglobulin administration based on this new evidence.

Medical management of ectopic pregnancy in a family planning clinic: A case series.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate safety of medical management of ectopic pregnancy in a free-standing family planning clinic setting. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed cases of ectopic pregnancy between January 2014 and December 2018 which were identified using a "Beta Board" tracking system. Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties staff added patients the "Beta Board" if they had a positive urine pregnancy test without definitive ultrasound diagnosis of intrauterine pregnancy and/or symptoms suggestive of ectopic pregnancy, such as vaginal bleeding, and cramping. Patients were included in the study if they had received a final diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. RESULTS: Of 5083 patients tracked via the Beta Board, 260 patients presented to a Planned Parenthood free-standing, family planning clinic with ectopic pregnancy. Ninety-five patients were treated with methotrexate entirely at the clinic. There were no deaths. Four ectopic pregnancies ruptured and 8 required surgery. CONCLUSION: Treatment of ectopic pregnancy with methotrexate in the family planning clinic setting can be safe and effective with reassuring outcomes that are similar to the hospital setting.

"Who is driving you home today?" Escort policies as a barrier to abortion access.

Post-sedation escort policies are not evidence-based but traditional consensus recommendations made by professional societies. As people travel further for abortion care, escort policies are increasingly difficult to navigate and force people to delay care, compromise privacy, or undergo procedures without sedation. At worst, clinics may turn away people who present without an escort. Recent research shows that patients can be discharged safely after sedation using rideshare or transport services without a known escort. Updating escort policies lowers barriers to abortion and preserves autonomy, comfort, and choice.

Successful dilation and evacuation for second trimester conjoined twin: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Conjoined twins are a rare clinical event occurring in about 1 per 250,000 live births. Though the prognosis of conjoined twins is generally low, there is limited evidence as to the optimal method of pregnancy termination, particularly in cases of advanced gestational age. We report a successful dilation and evacuation (D&E) done for conjoined twins at 22 weeks of gestation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 20-year-old primigravid woman was diagnosed with a conjoined, thoraco-omphalopagus twin pregnancy after undergoing a detailed two-dimensional (2D) fetal ultrasound anatomic scanning. Assessment and counseling were done by a multidisciplinary team. The team discussed the prognosis and options of management with the patient. The patient opted for termination of pregnancy. Different options of termination were discussed and the patient consented for D&E, with the possibility of reverting to hysterotomy in case intraoperative difficulty was encountered. A 2-day cervical preparation followed by D&E was done under spinal anesthesia and ultrasound guidance. CONCLUSION: In this patient, D&E was done successfully without complications. Adequate cervical preparation, pain control, and ultrasound guidance during the procedure are critical for optimal outcomes. A literature review of methods of pregnancy termination for conjoined twins in the second trimester revealed 75% delivered vaginally through medical induction while 18% underwent cesarean section. Only one other report described successful D&E for conjoined twins after 20 weeks. D&E can be safely performed for carefully selected cases of conjoined twins beyond 20 weeks' gestations avoiding the need for induction or hysterotomy.

Comparison of surgical versus medical termination of pregnancy between 13-20 weeks of gestation in Ethiopia: A quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Dilation and evacuation is a method of second trimester pregnancy termination introduced recently in Ethiopia. However, little is known about the safety and effectiveness of this method in an Ethiopian setting. Therefore, the study is intended to determine the safety and effectiveness of dilation and evacuation for surgical abortion as compared to medical abortion between 13-20 weeks' gestational age. METHODS: This is a quasi-experimental study of women receiving second trimester termination of pregnancy between 13-20 weeks. Patients were allocated to either medical or surgical abortion based on their preference. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic information and clinical data upon admission. Procedure related information was collected after the procedure was completed and before the patient was discharged. Additionally, women were contacted 2 weeks after the procedure to evaluate for post-procedural complications. The primary outcome of the study was a composite complication rate. Data were collected using Open Data Kit and then analyzed using Stata version 14.2. Univariate analyses were performed using means (standard deviation), or medians (interquartile range) when the distribution was not normal. Multiple logistic regression was also performed to control for confounders. RESULTS: Two hundred nineteen women chose medical abortion and 60 chose surgical abortion. The composite complication rate is not significantly different among medical and surgical abortion patients (15% versus 10%; p = 0.52). Nine patients (4.1%) in the medical arm required additional intervention to complete the abortion, while none of the surgical abortion patients required additional intervention. Median (IQR) hospital stay was significantly longer in the medical group at 24 (12-24) hours versus 6(4-6) hours in the surgical group p<0.001. CONCLUSION: From the current study findings, we concluded that there is no difference in safety between surgical and medical methods of abortion. This study demonstrates that surgical abortion can be used as a safe and effective alternative to medical abortion and should be offered equivalently with medical abortion, per the patient's preference.

Leukocytosis during cervical preparation with osmotic dilators for dilation and evacuation.

OBJECTIVES: To describe leukocytosis trends during cervical preparation with osmotic dilators for second-trimester dilation and evacuation procedures, and to determine whether there is a difference in leukocytosis seen with laminaria versus Dilapan-S. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 986 women presenting for dilation and evacuation from April 2008 through March 2009 at an outpatient clinic network. We included all procedures at ⩾14 weeks' gestation where laminaria or Dilapan-S dilators were used for overnight dilation. All women had routine white blood cell testing during the study period. RESULTS: There was a median increase of 2.4 × 103/µL white blood cell count (95% confidence interval 2.2-2.7 × 103/µL) from beginning of cervical preparation to the day of procedure (95% confidence interval and p value). Women receiving laminaria (n = 805) versus Dilapan-S (n = 181) had a greater increase in white blood cell count from baseline (median increase 2.7 versus 1.2 × 103/µL, p < 0.001), including when adjusting for age, gestational age, parity, baseline white blood cell count, and number of dilators placed. CONCLUSION: There is increased leukocytosis during the course of cervical preparation with osmotic dilators, and this is increased with use of laminaria versus Dilapan-S. Rates of clinically recognized infection in second-trimester abortion are low regardless of dilator type used.

Intra-cardiac lidocaine administration to induce fetal demise before late second-trimester abortion: Retrospective review.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and safety of intra-cardiac lidocaine administration to induce fetal demise before second-trimester medication abortion in a teaching hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review to collect selected sociodemographic and clinical information. All patients who received fetal intra-cardiac lidocaine between January 1, 2019 and April 30, 2019 were included in the study. Fetal demise was considered successful if achieved within 24 hours after fetal intra-cardiac lidocaine administration. We analyzed the data using SPSS version 20. We used frequency tables to describe the data and performed a multivariable analysis to determine associations between variables. RESULTS: A total of 80 fetuses were given intra-cardiac lidocaine.The mean gestational age was 23+1  weeks (range 21+0 -27+5  weeks). Twenty-four hours after lidocaine administration 76 (95%) pregnancies showed negative fetal cardiac activity. Fetuses at gestational ages of 21-23+6  weeks were five times more likely to have negative cardiac activity compared with those with gestational ages between 24 and 28 weeks (P=0.001). Two women developed nausea, vomiting, and a metallic taste, but no serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-cardiac lidocaine is effective at inducing fetal demise before late second-trimester medication abortion with no associated serious adverse events or complications.