Oral versus vaginal misoprostol administered one hour before surgical termination of pregnancy: a randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of oral and vaginal misoprostol as cervical priming agents administered 1 hour before first trimester surgical termination of pregnancy.


METHODS
A randomised controlled trial.


METHODS
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London.


METHODS
Pregnant women of 10 weeks or less gestation attending the termination of pregnancy clinic.


METHODS
Ninety eligible women were recruited to the study during September 2001 and September 2002. Women were randomised to one of the three groups: misoprostol administered orally (400 microg), misoprostol administered vaginally (800 microg) and standard care (no cervical priming agent) administered prior to surgical termination of pregnancy. Under general anaesthesia, and prior to the operation, a cervical tonometer was used to determine the main outcome measures.


METHODS
Baseline cervical dilatation and the cumulative force required to dilate the cervix from 3 to 9 mm.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the mean baseline cervical dilation (P= 0.16) or the cumulative force required to dilate the cervix (P= 0.12) between the three randomised groups.


CONCLUSIONS
No cervical priming effects were detectable with oral or vaginal misoprostol administered 1 hour before first trimester surgical termination of pregnancy.
Sharma
Sunita
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London, UK.
Refaey
Hazem
H
Stafford
Michael
M
Purkayastha
Sheila
S
Parry
Marianne
M
Axby
Helen
H
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D020070:Cervical Ripening / Q000187:drug effects; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007747:Labor Stage, First; D008365:Manometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol