This study examines the effect of laminaria and oxytocin in 638 saline instillation abortions. Laminaria were inserted into the cervical canal in the physician's office 2 to 3 hours before admission to hospital for instillation. Pitocin was given intravenously at a rate of 417 to 555 mu/min starting 2 hours after instillation. Pitocin was given intravenously at a rate of 417 to 555 mu/min starting 2 hours after instillation. Center for Disease Control (CDC) criteria were used to define complications in the present series. Complication rates compared favorably to those in a national CDC study of traditional saline procedures. Instillation-abortion times averaged 12.5 hours in the present series, about half the time previously reported for saline abortion. If confirmed by other studies, laminaria and oxytocin will be beneficial adjuncts for managing patients aborted by saline instillation.