| Efficacy | Safety | Complications |
Dilatation and evacuation | 99% successful abortion rate [32] | Complications are less frequent in earlier gestation. The preferred technique of cervical dilatation is to use multiple osmotic dilators. | Cervical laceration, hemorrhage, uterine perforation, infection, incomplete abortion requiring repeat evacuation (similar to first trimester surgical abortion) |
Intrauterine instillation of abortifacients | 93% successful abortion rate [33] | The location of the needle after insertion needs to be confirmed by withdrawing a small amount of amniotic fluid to prevent intravascular or intramyometrial infusion. | Transient fetal survival, gastrointestinal side effects, hypernatremia, fluid overload |
Administration of systemic abortifacients | 97% successful abortion rate [28] | Combined mifepristone and misoprostol regimen has been shown to shorten the induction to delivery time and decrease procedure-related pain compared to prostaglandin only regimens. | Fever, shivering, gastrointestinal discomfort, retained products of conception requiring surgical evacuation |