Gradual cervical dilation for termination of early second-trimester pregnancy with a double balloon device.

Thirty-two women with pregnancies of 12-15 weeks underwent cervical dilation before abortion using a double balloon device. In all cases, satisfactory dilation was achieved and evacuation accomplished. The slow dilation process, resulting from the continuous indirect dilator effect of the balloons, was not associated with patient inconvenience in most cases. Larger dilation was achieved by adding a continuous instillation of extraovular prostaglandin E2 solution through the device. The double balloon device is a convenient and safe cervical dilator and may be a suitable method for cervical dilation before abortion.