title: Cervical obstruction complicating second-trimester abortion: treatment with misoprostol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical cone biopsy or loop electrosurgical excision procedures (LEEP) may lead to cervical scarring, agglutination, or stenosis. Leiomyomas may also obstruct the lower uterine segment such that instruments cannot be passed from the vagina to the gestation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two women requested second trimester abortion. Both women had undergone cervical LEEP. In addition, one woman had a 10-cm leiomyoma, which seemed to be obstructing the lower segment. In both, the external cervical os was essentially obliterated. After administration of misoprostol, the cervix softened markedly in 18-24 hours. In both women, the cervix dilated readily and allowed dilation and evacuation of the uterus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Misoprostol resulted in the ability to evacuate the uterus vaginally, in a situation that might have otherwise resulted in hysterotomy.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borgatta
authors.forename: Raja
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sayegh
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Betstadt
authors.forename: Phillip G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Stubblefield
mesh_terms: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D023802:Cerclage, Cervical / Q000009:adverse effects; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D019092:Conization / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D014619:Vacuum Curettage
chemical_list: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol