title: A randomized controlled trial for cervical priming using vaginal misoprostol prior to hysteroscopy in women who have only undergone cesarean section.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of misoprostol administrated vaginally on cervical priming and its complications prior to diagnostic or operative hysteroscopy in women who have undergone at least one cesarean section and who have never delivered vaginally before and/or had other transcervical procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 55 patients undergoing hysteroscopy for various intra-uterine lesions were included in this study and were randomly allocated to two groups finally. Thirty patients in the study group were given 200 μg misoprostol vaginally 12 h before the procedure, whereas 25 patients in the control group did not receive any cervical priming. The countered outcome included the cervical width detected with Hegar dilatators and complication rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean cervical width was greater in the study group (6.6 ± 1.3) than in the control group (5.1 ± 0.9). Complications and failure rates were lower in the study group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Application of 200 μg misoprostol vaginally 12 h before hysteroscopy softens the cervix, reduces cervical resistance and consequently the need for cervical dilatation, with only mild side effects.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Emmanouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kalampokas
authors.forename: Chrisostomos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sofoudis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonogeorgos
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Panoulis
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aravantinos
authors.forename: Odysseas
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Grigoriou
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kalampokas
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D010120:Oxytocics; D016595:Misoprostol