title: A short-scheme protocol of gemeprost for midtrimester termination of pregnancy with uterine scar.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to investigate the safety and effectiveness of a short-scheme protocol of gemeprost for second trimester induction of abortion in women with previous uterine surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of women who underwent second trimester medical termination of pregnancy (TOP) at our hospital in a 5-year period. A short regimen of gemeprost was used: over a 24-h period, 1 mg vaginal gemeprost was given every 3 h up to three doses after which, if abortion did not occur, another course at the same dosage schedule was administered up to 4 days. Induction failure was defined as women undelivered by 96 h. A homogeneous population was identified. Statistical analysis was performed with the chi(2) test or Fisher's Exact Test for categorical data and t test for continuous variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred seventeen women underwent medical midtrimester TOP in the 5-year study period. Two hundred five patients were selected for this review, comparing 63 patients with scarred uterus to 142 women without uterine scars. There were no differences between the two groups in induction-to-abortion interval and number of pessaries given. The overall failure of induction rate was 1.5% and need for blood transfusion was 0.5%. No uterine rupture was reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The regimen of gemeprost proposed seems to be as safe and effective in patients with uterine scars as in women with unscarred uteri with a very low incidence of complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy. marco.scioscia@tin.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scioscia
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pontrelli
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vimercati
authors.forename: Sabino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santamato
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Selvaggi
mesh_terms: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000328:Adult; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014599:Uterus / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; C021182:gemeprost; D000527:Alprostadil