TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY

COMPARISON OF SUBLINGUAL AND VAGINAL MISOPROSTOL IN SECOND TRIMESTER

Abstract

O b j e c t i v e : To compare the efficacy of vaginal misoprostal with that of sublingual misoprostol in 2n d trimester of pregnancy
by comparing the induction-expulsion interval between two groups of patients induced with vaginal and sublingual misoprostol. S t u dy
d e s i g n : Interventional, quasi experimental study. Settings: Obstetrics & Gynaecology Unit 1, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore. Duration
of s t u d y : Thirteen months from October 2006 to November 2007. S u b j e c t s a n d M e t h o d s : Sixty women at 12-26 weeks of gestation which
were selected for termination of pregnancy were assigned into two groups. Thirty women received sublingual misoprostol and thirty women
received vaginal misoprostol. Dosage regimen was tablet Misoprostol 200fjg 4 hours apart till expulsion of fetus (maximum 5 doses). Main
outcome measures were: 1. Induction-expulsion intervals 2. Maternal side effects 3. Fever 4. Nausea/vomiting 5.Diarrhea. R e s u l t s : Mean
induction-expulsion interval in vaginal group was 11.8±8.3 hours and in the sublingual group was 12.8±8.5 hours. Percentage of complete
expulsion was 53.3% in both groups. Cases of failed induction in vaginal group were 10% and in sublingual group were 13.3%. One case
(3.3%) of fever and two cases (6.6%) of vomiting were observed in sublingual group and one case (3.3%) of vomiting was observed in
vaginal group. C o n c l u s i o n : Both routes appear to be equally efficacious for mid trimester pregnancy termination, without significant side
effects.