Joylene Diana Dâ??Almeida, Sujaya V. Rao
Medical abortion is the use of drugs to induce abortion of a fetus. Due to the advances in the field of research, numerous regimens have been formulated to ensure a fast and complete expulsion of the fetus. These regimens also aim to towards reduced post abortal side effects and to decrease the need for surgical evacuation post medical abortion. The objective of this cross sectional analysis was to study the effectiveness of the WHO safe abortion regimen in a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with pregnancies of 12 to 30 weeks of gestation and in whom a medical abortion was deemed necessary were chosen. After instituting the WHO SAFE ABORTION regimen they were analysed based on indication for pregnancy termination, onset of pain with WHO regimen and time of expulsion as well as post abortal side effects and the need for surgical evacuation due to failure of the WHO safe abortion regimen. Post abortion an ultrasound was done to confirm the success of the regimen. RESULTS: Majority of patients in our study was multiparous and Mean gestational age for pregnancy termination was 20.6 weeks. The most common indication for medical abortion was incidental diagnosis of fetal demise or fetal anomaly on ultrasonography (43.6%). The average duration for onset of pain was 3 hours and the average time needed for expulsion was 6 hours from the start of the Abortion regimen. The most common post abortal side effect was excessive bleeding. Only about 13.3 percent patients needed a surgical evacuation due to failure of the regimen. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the WHO safe abortion regimen is highly effective and a desirable method for medical termination of pregnancy, especially in early pregnancy and in patients in whom a surgical method of abortion could pose as a risk. The WHO SAFE ABORTION regimen has minimal post abortal side effects, need for surgical intervention and the time needed for expulsion is less. Hence it can be used as a day care regimen as well. Whenever in doubt of the completeness of the abortion, a check ultrasound is recommended post procedure to ensure completeness of expulsion
