title: Comparison of intravaginal misoprostol and intracervical Foley catheter alone or in combination for termination of second trimester pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effectiveness, safety and acceptability of intravaginal misoprostol and intracervical Foley catheter alone or in combination for termination of second trimester pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This clinical study was conducted on 90 pregnant patients intended for termination of pregnancy between 13 and 24 gestational weeks for any indication. Enrolled women are equally allocated into three groups: • Group I (Misoprostol group): a standard regimen of moistened misoprostol (400 μg) 4 hourly inserted vaginally. • Group II (Catheter group): intracervical Foley catheter inserted, inflated and placed on traction. • Group III (Combined group): intracervical Foley catheter inserted with a standard regimen of moistened misoprostol (400 μg) 4 hourly intravaginally was used. Procedure efficacy (defined as complete abortion performed on site), safety and acceptability were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The induction to abortion interval was 7.5±1.25 h in the combined group, compared to 11.76±1.63 h in the misoprostol group and 19.76±1.52 h in the catheter group (p value<0.001) with a success rate of 100% and no major complications reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results confirmed the high success rate with the shortest induction to abortion interval with a combined use of intracervical Foley catheter and misoprostol for termination of second trimester pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University , Menufia , Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed Abd-Allah
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rezk
authors.forename: Zakaria
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sanad
authors.forename: Ragab
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dawood
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emarh
authors.forename: Alaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masood
mesh_terms: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol
keywords: Foley catheter; misoprostol; pregnancy termination; second trimester