title: Hourly oral misoprostol administration for terminating midtrimester pregnancies: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of medical induction of termination of midtrimester pregnancies with hourly oral misoprostol administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen women with living fetuses, who had undergone pregnancy termination at 12-25 weeks of gestational age, were reviewed. The method of induction was hourly oral administration of misoprostol, given at doses of 200 μg/hr for the first 12 hours and 400 μg/hr after 12 hours until delivery. Data including the induction-to-delivery interval and total dosage of misoprostol were recorded and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 16 women successfully underwent vaginal termination within 36 hours. The median induction-to-delivery interval was 12.0 hours (range, 6.3-30.9 hours), with 13 women (81.3%) undergoing vaginal delivery within 24 hours. The median total dosage of misoprostol was 2,600 μg. The most common side effect was diarrhea, which was easily relieved by medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary results show that oral administration of misoprostol at hourly intervals is a promising method for terminating midtrimester pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China Medical University Beigang Hospital, Yunlin, Taiwan. shiyann@ms18.url.com.tw
authors.forename: Shi-Yann
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Chao-Song
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hsue
authors.forename: Geen-Hour
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Li-Chuan
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Shu-Chen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Pei
mesh_terms: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol