Randomized comparison of second trimester pregnancy termination utilizing saline moistened or dry misoprostol.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this randomized prospective study was to compare efficacy and side effects of saline moistened misoprostol with dry misoprostol, administered 800 mug intravaginally every 6 h up to a maximum of 3 doses in 24 h for second trimester pregnancy termination.


METHODS
A total of 81 women seeking termination of second trimester pregnancy (55 fetal death, 17 fetal structural anomaly, 5 chromosomal abnormality, 4 other reasons) were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: (1) intravaginal non-moistened (dry) misoprostol in group A (n = 40) or (2) misoprostol moistened with 3 ml of saline in group B (n = 41).


RESULTS
All of the patients in either group aborted within 48 h (100% success rate). Delivery was achieved in a median (interquartile range) of 13 (40) h with the group A protocol and 12 (36) h with the group B protocol (P = 0.652). Delivery with first dose, delivery within 12 h and delivery within 24 h were similar (P > 0.05) in group B (34.1, 87.5 and 60%, respectively) and group A (25, 82.9, 46.3, respectively). Both treatment regimens were tolerable and with similar side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Misoprostol moistened with saline was not more effective than dry misoprostol for second trimester pregnancy termination.
Yilmaz
Bulent
B
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. drbulentyilmaz@yahoo.com
Kelekci
Sefa
S
Ertas
Ibrahim Egemen
IE
Ozel
Murat
M
Sut
Necdet
N
Mollamahmutoglu
Leyla
L
Danisman
Nuri
N
D000019:Abortifacient Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000032:Abortion, Therapeutic; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D016595:Misoprostol; D012965:Sodium Chloride