The use of misoprostol for early pregnancy failure.
OBJECTIVE
This paper reviews the current management of early pregnancy failure with particular emphasis on the use of misoprostol.


RESULTS
Medical management using misoprostol is effective for the management of miscarriages. The success rate ranged from 84 to 93% depending on the regimen of misoprostol, the duration of waiting period and the types of miscarriage.


CONCLUSIONS
Miscarriages occur in 10 to 20% of all pregnancies. Surgical evacuation has been used to empty the uterus. Recently, medical treatment using misoprostol has been studied for the management of miscarriage. It avoids surgery and its associated complications. Compared to expectant management, the success rate is higher. Nonsurgical management takes a longer period to reach the endpoint and medical management is associated with side effect of medication. Studies have shown that medical management is safe and acceptable to women. The optimal regimen of medical management, however, is yet to be determined.
Tang
Oi Shan
OS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. ostang@graduate.hku.hk
Ho
Pak Chung
PC
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000027:Abortion, Incomplete / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D016595:Misoprostol; D015735:Mifepristone