SECOND TRIMESTER PREGNANCY

ORAL VERSUS VAGINAL MISOPROSTOL FOR TERMINATION

Abstract

Objective: To compare clinical efficacy and side effects of oral misoprotol with vaginal misoprostol for termination of second trimester pregnancy. Design: Interventional Quasi experimental. Setting: Gynae Unit III, Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad. Period: 1st March 2006 to 31st August 2006. Methodology: Sixty patients were selected with thirty in each group i.e thirty for oral route (group A) and thirty for vaginal route(group B). The patients included in this study were those having singleton pregnancy with gestational age between 12 to 26 weeks requiring termination of pregnancy. A dose of 100ug to 200ug was used with maximum of 1200ug in each group of patients. Results: The subjects of either group were similar with respect to mean age, height, weight, parity, gestational age and pre induction Bishop Score. The success rate in group A was 94.4% as compared to group B was 86.8%. intra uterine death was the commonest indication in both groups found in 46.7% women of vaginal misoprostol group and 50% women of oral misoprostol group. Surgical evacuation was needed in 36.7% women of oral misoprostol group and 16.7% women of vaginal misoprostol group. Conclusions: The present study shows misoprostol to be effective for mid trimester abortions, both orally and vaginally, the later route is preferable because it requires lesser doses and produces a shorter induction – abortion interval. However safety data are needed to guide the route choice and well designed studies are necessary.