Late second-trimester abortions induced with mifepristone, misoprostol and oxytocin: a report of 428 consecutive cases.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to assess efficacy and safety of administering 200 mg of mifepristone between 36 and 48 h before the insertion of 800 mcg of vaginal misoprostol to induce late second-trimester abortion between 19.1 and 25.6 weeks gestation.


METHODS
A consecutive series of 428 women who requested a termination of their pregnancy between 19.1 and 25.6 weeks of gestation were analyzed.


METHODS
Each woman received 200 mg of mifepristone orally between 36 and 48 h before the vaginal administration of 800 mcg of misoprostol and the insertion of two Dilapan intracervical tents if the gynecologist deemed necessary. Four hours after misoprostol, amniorrhexis was performed and intravenous oxytocin infusion started. The variables for assessing efficacy were the number of complete abortion without dilation and evacuation (D&E) and the time elapsed since misoprostol administration until the abortion.


RESULTS
Complete abortion without surgery occurred in 387/428 (90.4%) subjects, and the mean time for misoprostol to abortion was 6.9+/-3.1 (SD) h. In 32/428 (7.5%) patients, it was necessary to administer a second 600-mcg misoprostol dose. The mean total oxytocin used was 9.7+/-7.9 (SD) IU. In 41/428 (9.6%) women, the abortion process was completed by D&E. A uterine rupture occurred in one woman with a previous cesarean section.


CONCLUSIONS
The method of abortion that combined mifepristone, misoprostol and oxytocin was effective for interrupting pregnancies between 19.1 and 25.6 weeks of gestation. It is advisable to be well trained in D&E technique in case of possible failures and/or abortion inductions that are excessively prolonged.
Esteve
Josep Lluis Carbonell
JL
Gynecologic-Obstetric Service, Mediterrania Médica Clinic, 46017 Valencia, Spain. josepcarbon@yahoo.es
Gallego
Francisca Garcia
FG
Llorente
Margardell Pérez
MP
Bermúdez
Santiago Barambio
SB
Sala
Eugenia Sánchez
ES
González
Lidia Varela
LV
Texidó
Carlos Sánchez
CS
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016595:Misoprostol; D015735:Mifepristone; D010121:Oxytocin