ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of vaginal misoprostol in therapeutic termination of second trimester pregnancy with a live fetus. DESIGN: Prospective descriptive study. SETTING: Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University. SUBJECTS: Pregnant women meeting the inclusion criteria including 1) pregnancy with a live fetus, 2) gestational age of 14-28 weeks, 3) having an indication for therapeutic termination, 4) Bishop's score of < or = 4, 5) absence of uterine contraction and leakage of amniotic fluid, 6) no previous classical uterine scar and 7) no contraindication for misoprostol such as hypersensitivity. INTERVENTION: 400 microgram misoprostol gel intravagina every 12 hours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean induction-delivery time, mean abortion time, maternal side effects. RESULTS: Sixty eight pregnant women were recruited into the study. The mean induction-delivery time was 35.58 +/- 34.13 hours, mean abortion time was 35.80 +/- 34.13 minutes. Fever was the most common side effect occuring in about two-third of the patients, but no serious maternal complication was observed. CONCLUSION: 400 microgram vaginal misoprostol is effective for therapeutic termination of second trimester pregnancy with no serious side effects. However, the response to this treatment was markedly varied from patient to patient.