Alternative to surgical evacuation of uterus: misoprostol for post-abortion care

ABSTRACT

To compares the effectiveness of single 600 micrograms [micro g] dose of sublingual misoprostol with manual vacuum aspiration [MVA] for treatment of incomplete and missed abortions. Quasi- Experimental study. Post-abortion care room, Jinnah Postgraduate medical centre [JPMC] Karachi, from September 2008 to December 2008. Hundred consenting women with incomplete and missed abortions were randomized to either a single dose of 600 micrograms of sublingual misoprostol or MVA for treatment of their condition. Main outcome measure was complete abortion following initial treatment. Secondary outcome measures were satisfaction rate and acceptability of the method. Regardless of treatment assigned, nearly all participants had a complete uterine evacuation [Misoprostol =92% MVA= 100% p=0.12]. A slightly more satisfaction rate was observed in the misoprostol group [p=0.001] as 86% participants expressed desire to choose misoprostol again while the number was 76% in MVA group. Sublingual misoprostol is as safe and as effective as manual vacuum aspiration for post-abortion care