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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Prolonged retention of laminaria fragments: an unusual complication of laminaria usage.

A single laminaria japonica was placed the day before an abortion requested by a 32-year-old nulliparous woman. On the day of the procedure, the laminaria was found to be tightly wedged in the cervix, and attempts at removal resulted in pushing the laminaria into the uterine cavity. The abortion was completed, and 3 days later, after placement of additional osmotic dilators, the intrauterine laminaria was crushed and removed. Fifteen months later, a small fragment of laminaria passed spontaneously. Hysteroscopy was performed, and approximately 30 fragments of laminaria were removed.

Abortion, Induced↗

Second trimester abortion using prostaglandin E2 suppositories with or without intracervical Laminaria japonica: a randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the abortifacient efficacy of vaginal prostaglandin (PG) E2 suppositories with and without pretreatment with intracervical PGE2 gel and Laminaria japonica. METHODS: One hundred seventy-five women between 16 and 20 weeks' gestation requesting abortion were divided randomly into three groups. Forty-one received PGE2 vaginal suppositories alone to induce abortion, 72 had Laminaria placed 24 hours before vaginal PGE2, and 62 were given intracervical 0.5 mg PGE2 gel plus Laminaria 24 hours before vaginal PGE2. Maternal demographic characteristics, induction to delivery time, number of suppositories required, and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean maternal age, gravidity, parity, race, and gestational age were similar among groups. Ninety-five percent of all women delivered within 24 hours. The induction to delivery time was significantly longer in the PGE2-only women (mean +/- standard deviation 689+/-319 minutes) compared with that of those receiving PGE2 plus Laminaria (487+/-321 minutes) and PGE2 plus Laminaria plus gel (547 +/-374 minutes, P = .01). There was a statistically significant difference in the number of suppositories needed to complete the abortion process. The PGE2-only group required more suppositories (median three, range 1-8) compared with PGE2 plus Laminaria (median 3, range 1-3) and PGE2 plus Laminaria plus gel (median 2.5, range 1-9; P = .001). Patients in the PGE2 plus Laminaria plus gel group reported more pain associated with placement (median pain score 4, range 0-10) compared with PGE2 plus Laminaria (median 2, range 0-9; P = .003). There was a lower incidence of febrile episodes in the PGE2-only group (29%) compared with PGE2 plus Laminaria (68%) and PGE2 plus Laminaria plus gel (54%, P = .002). CONCLUSION: Placement of Laminaria japonica 24 hours before PGE2 vaginal suppository-induced abortion resulted in a significantly shorter induction-to-delivery time, and pretreatment with Laminaria japonica decreased the number of suppositories required to complete abortion. Pretreatment with intracervical PGE2 gel increased pain associated with Laminaria placement and did not improve the efficacy of the procedure.

Abortion, Induced↗

Does the hygroscopic property of the laminaria tent imply a risk for ascending infection in legal abortions? A microbiological study.

In 53 women admitted for first-trimester abortion, the cervical canal was dilated with laminaria tents prior to vacuum aspiration. Before insertion of the tents, endocervical specimens were taken for microbiological investigations, including Chlamydia trachomatis, and both aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. The laminaria tents, widened by their hygroscopic properties, were removed just before the vacuum aspiration and sent for cultivation of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. The Gram-positive aerobic cocci, Staph. epidermidis, Strept. faecalis and Strept. agalactiae as well as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella/Enterobacter were the most frequent microorganism among the aerobic isolates from the endocervices as well as from the laminaria tents. These microorganisms were identified on the tents in greater numbers than in the cervices. Staph. aureus was isolated from three laminaria tents, but only one of these 3 women was proved to be primarily colonized endocervically. Among the anaerobes, Bacteroidaceae followed by peptococci and peptostreptococci were the predominant genera found in the cervix as well as on the removed laminaria tents. These three groups of anaerobic microorganisms were found markedly less frequently on the laminaria tents than in the endocervix. On the other hand, Strept. intermedius, another anaerobe of possible enteric origin, was recovered from 9 laminaria tents but not in the cervices. Since no cases of clinically verified endometritis/salpingitis were registered in the present study it is concluded that the risk of a pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) due to the laminaria tent is negligible as long as the laminaria treatment does not exceed 24 hours.

Abortion, Induced↗

A randomized clinical trial of the addition of laminaria to misoprostol and hypertonic saline for second-trimester induction abortion.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes of second-trimester induction abortion with misoprostol and hypertonic saline, with and without use of laminaria. METHOD: Fifty-eight women, between 17.5 and 22.5 weeks' gestation, were randomly assigned to receive or omit laminaria in conjunction with other procedures for induction abortion. All women received a fetocidal dose of 60 cc intra-amniotic hypertonic saline. If the woman was to receive laminaria, they were inserted next. This was followed by vaginal misoprostol 200 mug, which was repeated every 6 h. RESULT: Women with laminaria inserted before misoprostol administration had longer intervals from start of misoprostol to delivery of the fetus (induction times) than women without laminaria. Induction time was 14.4 vs. 11.4 h, respectively (p=.04, Wilcoxon rank sum test). Total misoprostol use was higher in the laminaria group, 628 mug (95% CI, 516-738) vs. 496 mug (95% CI, 419-573) (p=.05). Total analgesic use was also higher in the laminaria group, 41 mg of morphine (95% CI, 32-50) vs. 26 mg of morphine (95% CI, 18-32) (p=.02). CONCLUSION: Laminaria use, in conjunction with misoprostol and hypertonic saline, significantly prolongs induction time and increases narcotic analgesia usage.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal↗

Two cases of anaphylaxis after laminaria insertion.

Anaphylaxis following laminaria insertion rarely occurs but may be a life-threatening condition. Laminaria tents, prepared from natural sea kelp, are commonly used prior to elective termination of pregnancy to achieve cervical dilatation. We report herein two cases of anaphylaxis caused by IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to laminaria. Two women, each of whom had undergone at least one previous abortion where a laminaria had been utilized, developed anaphylactic reaction following laminaria insertion. The reaction included urticaria, nausea, breathing difficulty, and hypotension. The patients subsequently underwent skin testing and measurement of serum specific IgE level to laminaria extract, and were shown to elicit positive responses to laminaria. The implication and impact of laminaria allergy on gynecologic procedures are significant and this allergy should be included in the list of differential diagnoses for hypersensitive reaction in gynecologic procedures.

Adult↗

Functional and biochemical aspects of laminaria use in first-trimester pregnancy termination.

The effect of laminaria-induced cervical dilatation of plasma levels of the prostaglandin metabolite 13, 14-dihydro- 15-keto prostaglandin (PGFM) was evaluated in women undergoing elective first-trimester pregnancy termination. Seventy-one women were randomly assigned to either a treatment (n = 45) or control (n = 26) group. Cervical dilatation measured at the time of insertion of the laminaria was 3.0 +/- 0.1 mm compared to 10.2 +/- 0.2 mm at the time of removal of the laminaria 14 to 16 hours later (p less than 0.001). Peripheral levels of PGFM rose from 28.3 +/- 2.4 pg/ml (mean +/- SEM) to 43.0 +/0 2.6 pg/ml at the time of removal of the laminaria (p less than 0.001). Peripheral concentrations of PGFM in controls remained unchanged. Peripheral concentrations of PGFM did not correlate with the patient's symptoms. Although the hydrophilic property of laminaria is considered to be the principal mechanism promoting cervical dilatation, laminaria may alter the elaboration, release, or degradation of uterine prostaglandin F2 alpha. Thus, biochemical as well as mechanical factors may enhance cervical dilatation in laminaria-treated women.

Abortion, Induced↗

A randomized trial of extra-amniotic saline infusion versus laminaria for cervical ripening.

OBJECTIVE: To compare extra-amniotic saline infusion versus laminaria for cervical ripening and labor induction. METHODS: Patients of at least 34 weeks' gestation with a Bishop score of 3 or less were randomized to either laminaria ripening for 6 hours or more followed by oxytocin induction versus initiation of extra-amniotic saline infusion at the start of oxytocin induction. Indications for induction included 41 weeks' gestation or greater, hypertensive disease, diabetes, oligohydramnios, suspect fetal growth, and nonreassuring fetal testing. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in maternal age, race, parity, gestational age, or indications for induction between the two groups (extra-amniotic saline infusion group, n = 26, laminaria group, n = 26). After only 3 hours of oxytocin induction, patients in the extra-amniotic saline infusion group achieved an identical distribution of Bishop scores compared with the patients in the laminaria group after 6 hours or more of pre-induction ripening as well as 3 hours of oxytocin induction. There were no differences in rates of cesarean delivery (extra-amniotic saline infusion 35%, laminaria 35%), infectious complications, or neonatal outcomes between the two groups. The induction-to-delivery interval (+/- standard deviation) was significantly shortened with extra-amniotic saline infusion (extra-amniotic saline infusion 12.9 +/- 5.7 hours versus laminaria 16.9 +/- 7.1 hours, P = .03). In addition, fewer cesarean deliveries were performed for failed inductions (cervix less than 5 cm dilated) in the extra-amniotic saline infusion group (one of 26 versus six of 26, P = .049). CONCLUSION: Extra-amniotic saline infusion offers potential advantages over the use of laminaria. Extra-amniotic saline infusion saves a significant amount of time both by obviating the need for pre-induction cervical ripening and in shortening the induction-to-delivery interval. Also, fewer patients required cesarean delivery for failed induction of labor with extra-amniotic saline infusion.

Adult↗

Hypersensitivity reactions following laminaria placement.

Laminaria tents are commonly placed intracervically prior to elective termination of pregnancy. Three women, each of whom had undergone at least one previous abortion in which a laminaria was utilized, developed hypersensitivity reactions following laminaria placement. The reactions included urticaria, angioedema and respiratory distress. All responded to removal of the laminaria and administration of either diphenhydramine, prednisone, inhaled bronchodilators or subcutaneous epinephrine. One of the women subsequently underwent skin testing and was positive to laminaria. Patients undergoing laminaria placement may manifest a Type I reaction, IgE-mediated sensitivity. Providers should counsel patients with histories of multiple previous laminaria insertions about this possibility, have alternative methods of cervical dilation available, and be able to promptly recognize and treat reactions when they occur.

Abortion, Induced↗

Biochemical changes in the cervical mucus after application of laminaria tent.

BACKGROUND: This research was aimed to study the biochemical changes in cervical mucus after application of laminaria tent. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cervical mucus was collected before and after insertion of laminaria tent from 20 normal pregnant women in the first and second trimesters. Interleukin-1 beta, IL-8, collagenase activity, elastase activity, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were measured in the collected samples. Laminaria tent was also inserted in one vaginal cervix of five non-pregnant rabbits and the clinical and histological changes were compared with five non-treated rabbits. Collagen contents were assessed histologically and Leukocyte number was counted. RESULTS: IL-1 beta and IL-8 and elastase activity were significantly increased after insertion of laminaria (p<0.0001 and 0.001 respectively). Collagenase activity was not significantly changed. Whereas concentration of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha in the mucus were markedly increased (p<0.0001 and 0.001 respectively). Collagen contents were significantly decreased in laminaria and opposite side cervices (p<0.0001). No significant changes in leukocyte count could be observed in treated and non treated cervices. CONCLUSIONS: Insertion of laminaria leads to increase concentration of IL-1 beta, IL-8, PGE2, PGF2 alpha and elastase activity. Mechanical stretching of the cervix and biochemical changes in cervical mucus may explain the mechanism of cervical ripening induced by laminaria.

Animals↗

Laminaria use in midtrimester abortions induced by intra-amniotic prostaglandin F2alpha with urea and intravenous oxytocin.

A laminaria tent was used as an adjunct during midtrimester abortion to attempt to shorten the injection-abortion interval without adversely affecting the frequency of infection, hemorrhage, failed abortion, or cervical laceration. Eighty patients, between 14 and 20 weeks' gestation and desiring pregnancy termination, were randomized into three groups. Abortion was initiated by an intra-amniotic infusion of 20 mg of prostaglandin F2alpha and 80 gm of hyperosmolar urea in Ringer's lactate (135 ml total volume), followed by oxytocin infused intravenously at 333 mU/min. Group I (N = 28) received no additional therapy; Group II (N = 23) had laminaria placed at the time of the abortifacient injection and removed 4 hours later; Group III (N = 29) had laminaria placed 4 hours prior to inejction and removed at the time of injection. The injection-abortion intervals in these three groups were 17.76, 20.80, and 12.96 hours, respectively. This study illustrates that a laminaria tent palced 4 hours prior to injection is significantly more effective than a laminaria tent placed at the time of injection, and produces a shorter mean injection-abortion interval than that in patients receiving no laminaria. Furthermore, laminaria augmentation results in no demonstrable increase in the frequency of serious complications.

Abortifacient Agents↗

Laminaria as an adjunct in induction of labor.

The safety and efficacy of laminaria tents as an adjunct to labor induction near term were examined in a prospective, controlled, and randomized study involving insertion of laminaria into the cervical canal the evening prior to planned induction. Six of 35 subjects in whom laminaria were used entered labor spontaneously and delivered overnight, compared with 1 of 39 controls. Of the remainder, the Bishop score increased an average of 3.7 points, a highly significant change, in the laminaria-treated group compared with no change in the controls. Labor, induced primarily by amniotomy with intravenous oxytocin then given to patients in whom regular contractions did not begin within 8 hours, was shorter with laminaria use than in controls, though the amniotomy-to-delivery interval did not differ significantly. However, comparison of the subgroup with cervices relatively unfavorable for induction, indicated by an initial Bishop score of 5 or less, showed both length of labor and amniotomy-to-delivery interval to be significantly shorter (each by an average of 3 hours) in the laminaria-treated group compared with controls. Complications, including febrile morbidity, did not differ. We conclude that laminaria tents are both effective and safe as an adjunct to labor induction, acting by accelerating the preparatory changes in the cervix which normally occur in late pregnancy.

Dilatation↗

A comparison of misoprostol with and without laminaria tents for induction of second-trimester abortion.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether intracervical placement of laminaria tents would improve the effectiveness of the prostaglandin analog misoprostol for the elective termination of pregnancies in the second trimester. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty-eight women between 12 and 22 weeks of gestation with either an intrauterine fetal death (n = 40) or medical or genetic indications for pregnancy termination (n = 30) were randomized to receive 200 micrograms of misoprostol administered vaginally every 12 hours with or without intracervical placement of laminaria concurrently with the first dose of misoprostol. RESULTS: The rate of abortion 24 hours after initiation of treatment was 69.7% in the 33 women receiving misoprostol alone and 68.6% in the 35 women treated with misoprostol and laminaria. The abortion rates 48 hours after initiation of treatment were 84.8% and 91.4%, respectively, an insignificant difference. The complete abortion rate was also similar between women receiving misoprostol alone (39.3%) and the group receiving misoprostol and laminaria (37.5%). There were no significant differences in the incidence of fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or pain. The mean interval from initiation of treatment to abortion was also similar, 15.7 hours in those receiving misoprostol alone and 17.4 hours in those treated with misoprostol and laminaria. In both groups women who had live fetuses at the start of the procedure had a higher failure rate of abortion and a longer time interval to abortion than women whose fetus was dead. CONCLUSIONS: Laminaria tents inserted concurrently with the first dose of misoprostol do not significantly improve the abortifacient effect of vaginal misoprostol in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal↗

Cervical ripening: randomized comparison of intravaginal prostaglandin E2 gel with prostaglandin E2 gel plus laminaria tents.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of adding laminaria tents to sequential intravaginal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) gel for cervical ripening. A prospective, randomized study was conducted from October 1994 to May 1995. Pregnant women with maternal or fetal indications for induction of labor at > or = 37 weeks gestation and a Bishop score of < or = 4 were eligible. Nineteen patients received laminaria tents in addition to 4 mg PGE2 gel, while 25 patients received PGE2 gel alone. After 4 hr, the laminaria tents were removed and the gel was continued in both groups at 4-hr intervals. Induction with oxytocin was initiated after a Bishop score of > or = 5 was achieved. The groups were comparable with respect to maternal age, parity, gestational age, reason for induction, and initial Bishop score. The addition of laminaria tents to sequential PGE2 gel did not statistically improve the time to a favorable cervix (control group 12.7 +/- 8.5 hr (95% CI, 9.1-16.3) and study group 10.9 +/- 7.1 hr (95% CI, 7.5-14.3) (P = 0.59). The 6-hr difference from the time of the initial PGE2 gel placement to delivery was not detected (control group 22.4 +/- 11.2 hr, 95% CI 17-27 and study group 23.4 +/- 13.1 hr, 95% CI 17-29.6 (P = 0.79). The combination approach of laminaria tents and PGE2 gel did not have a significant impact on the vaginal delivery rate, with 28.0% of patients in the control group and 26.3% of patients in the study group undergoing cesarean section (P = 0.90). Maternal and neonatal complications were rare in both groups. We had insufficient evidence to show that the addition of laminaria tents to PGE2 gel improved cervical ripening, the induction to delivery interval, or the cesarean section rate in patients at term undergoing induction of labor.

Administration, Intravaginal↗

Termination of second trimester pregnancy with laminaria and intramuscular 16 phenoxy-omega-17, 18, 19, 20 tetranor PGE2 methylsulfonylamide (sulprostone)-A randomised study.

16 phenoxy-omega-17, 18, 19, 20 tetranor PGE2 methylsulfonylamide (Sulprostone) was used for termination of second trimester pregnancy in four groups of 30 patients. The drug was administered in intramuscular doses of either 0.5 mg four hourly or 1.0 mg 8 hourly. In two groups of 30 patients a medium size sterile laminaria was inserted into the cervical canal eight hours before the start of prostaglandin treatment. In the group treated with 1.0 mg sulprostone eight hourly, 96.7% of those with laminaria and 86.7% without laminaria aborted in respective mean times of 11.2 hrs and 17.5 hrs. All 30 patients (100%) in the laminaria group treated with 0.5 mg sulprostone four hourly aborted within 30 hours in a mean time of 10.4 hours compared with 26 patients (86.7%) in a mean time of 16.7 hours in the group without laminaria. One patient receiving 0.5 mg sulprostone four hourly (no laminaria) sustained a cervical tear requiring repair. The incidence of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cold and shivering was low an similar in the four groups.

Abortifacient Agents↗

Extra-amniotic saline, laminaria, or prostaglandin E(2) gel for labor induction with unfavorable cervix: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine which of three methods of cervical ripening resulted in the lowest cesarean rate in women with unfavorable cervices and indications for labor induction. METHODS: Consenting women with singleton gestations, vertex presentations, and unfavorable cervices (dilatation under 2 cm and effacement under 75%) were randomly assigned to laminaria and standard intravenous oxytocin, serial doses of intracervical prostaglandin (PG) E(2) gel (Prepidil, Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc., Kalamazoo, MI) 0.5 microg every 6 hours for two doses followed by oxytocin if indicated, or extra-amniotic saline infusion and oxytocin. RESULTS: An interim analysis after recruitment of 321 subjects, 67% of the planned sample, found similar cesarean rates for the three groups (laminaria 36%; PGE(2) gel 33%; saline infusion 29%; P =.59); however, the mean randomization-to-delivery interval was significantly longer in the PGE(2) group. Stochastic curtailment, as part of the interim analysis, indicated a low likelihood of achieving a statistically significant difference in cesarean rates between PGE(2) gel and the other two groups. Therefore, we completed the study with saline infusion and laminaria. The saline infusion and laminaria groups had similar preinduction characteristics. The cesarean rates were similar (saline infusion 25.4% versus laminaria 30.3%; P =.32), but the mean interval from randomization to delivery was shorter in the saline infusion group (18.0 versus 21.5 hours, P =.002). There were no significant differences in selected maternal and neonatal morbidities. CONCLUSION: Cervical ripening with extra-amniotic saline infusion, PGE(2), or laminaria resulted in comparable cesarean rates in women with an unfavorable cervix and indications for labor induction. Extra-amniotic saline infusion had the shortest randomization-to-delivery interval without increasing maternal or neonatal morbidity.

Adult↗