Aim:

To compare the effectiveness of combined oral and vaginal misoprostol administration between the early and late second-trimester pregnancy termination.

Methods:

Demographic and clinical data of 257 second trimester pregnancy terminations were retrospectively reviewed. Total 257 patients were divided into the 2 groups. The group 1 was composed from 131 women whose gestational age was lower than 20 weeks of gestation. The group 2 was constituted from 126 women whose gestational age was more than the 20 weeks and one day of gestation. Demographic data, gestational age at diagnosis, total misoprostol dose (μg), induction to abortion or delivery period, total hospital stay, need for uterine cavity exploration and, complications were compared. Primary outcome was termination of pregnancy within the 24 hours.

Results:

The median induction to abortion or delivery period was 13.35 hours and, 14.23 hours respectively (p=0.37). Eighty-seven percent of pregnancies in the group 1 and 88.8 % of group 2 were terminated within 24 hours (p=0.64). Dilatation and curettage was required in 59.3 % of group 1 and 40.7 of group 2 (p=0.032). Only total misoprostol dose was related with the delivery within the 24 hour (p=0.001). This time interval was not related with indication of pregnancy termination (p=0.74).

Conclusion:

Early and late second trimester pregnancy terminations had similar clinical features except decreased surgical evacuation rate of uterine cavity in the group II.

Keywords: Misoprostol, second trimester pregnancy termination, prostaglandins, abortion, fetal demise, aneuploidy