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  • Title: The lay use of potassium permanganate as an abortifacient.
    Author: Obeng BB.
    Journal: Br J Clin Pract; 1968 Nov 11; 22(11):465-9. PubMed ID: 5696512.
    Abstract:
    Potassium permanganate, a drug formerly used for urological and dermatological conditions and with clear veterinary indications, is an oxidizing agent which is reduced to potassium hydroxide and manganese dioxide with the liberation of nascent oxygen, when it is brought into contact with tissue, water, or moisture. Since the second World War, reports of the drug's use as an abortifacient by nonmedical persons have increased. Because of the agent's veterinary indications, it was available over-the-counter, and apparently American soldiers are blamed for introducing British women to its abortifacient effects. This short article reviews published cases of attempted abortion by injection of the drug into the vagina. In addition, this paper describes 23 cases of intravaginal potassium permanganate burns seen over a 25-month period (1962-1964) to draw attention to the fad use of this agent for aborting. Speculum views of vaginal damage caused by the agent are depicted. The use of direct speculum examination for diagnosis is emphasized. Though all cases experienced fairly immediate per vagina bleeding post self-induced treatment, none terminated her pregnancy; instead, the caustic agents burned the vaginal fornix severely; in fact, the vast majority of cases delivered liveborn, normal fetuses after attempted abortion. Management is simple: arrest the hemorrhage, resuscitate the patient, and replace blood loss.
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