Comparison of between Live and Dead Fetuses: Efficacy of Intravaginal Misoprostol in Termination of Second Trimester Pregnancy

Kim, Jong In; Lee, Jung Ho

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficiency, success rate and abortion time between the live and the dead fetus in second trimester pregnancy termination with intravag-inal misoprostol.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
A total of 45 pregnant women between 18-29 weeks of gestation with medical, obstetric, or genetic reasons for termination were recruited to receive 50 ug misoprostol inserted intravaginally (posterior fornix) every 4 hours.
RESULTS
The success rate of complete termination(abortion) within 12 and 24 hours in dead fetuses were 78.2% and 95.6%, respectively, while in live fetuses were 36.3% and 90.9%, respectively. The mean abortion time of the dead fetus group (10.31+/-3.43 hours) was significantly less than that of the live fetus group (14.20+/-3.31 hours). No serious complications occurred in terms of hemorrhage, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. CONELUSION: Intracervicovaginal misoprostol is a safe and effective method for second trimester pregnancy termination. The abortion time is less in dead fetus pregnancy than that in the live fetus pregnancy.We used 50 ug tablets of misoprastol every four hours. But, we suspect that the regimen of 100ug misoprostol inserted intracervicovaginally every eight hours will beis the proper and optimal method for pregnancy termination.