title: Vaginal misoprostol 800 microg every 12 h for second-trimester abortion.
abstract: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 800 microg misoprostol every 12 h, up to three doses, for pharmacological second-trimester abortion. The misoprostol doses were always administered by doctors into the vagina. Two-hundred and sixty-nine women with gestations within 12 and 20 weeks were recruited into the study. The main outcomes measured were successful abortion (passage of fetus and placenta without surgery), side effects and mean drop in hemoglobin, vaginal bleeding and mean time of return of menstruation. Complete abortion occurred in 245/269 (91.1%, 95% confidence interval 87-94%) patients. Vaginal bleeding lasted 15.7 +/- 4.1 days. The mean drop in hemoglobin, calculated 24 h after abortion, were statistically significant (p = 0.0001), as also was the mean hemoglobin measured 14 days after abortion, but without clinical relevance. According to the results obtained, 800 microg of misoprostol administered every 12 h, up to a maximum of three doses, could be a valid method for abortion within 12 and 20 weeks of gestation.
authors.affiliation: Clínica Mediterrania Medica, C/ Salvador Guinot 14, Valencia 46017, Spain. schja@infomed.sld.cu
authors.forename: J L L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Carbonell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valera
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marí
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Llorente
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D006454:Hemoglobins; D016595:Misoprostol