Early termination of pregnancy by single-dose 800 μg misoprostol compared with surgical evacuation
Received 23 July 2007; received in revised form 12 November 2007; accepted 12 November 2007. published online 25 February 2008.
Objectives
To assess the efficacy, safety, and acceptability of early termination of pregnancy by vaginal administration of a single dose of misoprostol.
Setting
Healthy women seeking abortion in an institutional research environment in a tertiary-care hospital.
Design
Prospective randomized controlled clinical trial.
Participants
One hundred forty women seeking termination of pregnancy up to 49 days' gestational age were alternatively assigned to undergo medical or suction termination.
Intervention(s)
Saline-soaked prostaglandin E1 analogue, misoprostol (800 μg), was administered vaginally in group I, and group II underwent suction evacuation. Transvaginal sonography was performed on two subsequent visits to assess outcome.
Main Outcome Measure(s)
Efficacy, side effects, complications, and acceptability were assessed in both groups.
Result(s)
Complete abortion rate between the misoprostol and the surgical group was 94.2% versus 95.5%, respectively. Side effects were fewer in the misoprostol group and it had a higher acceptability rate.
Conclusion(s)
Single dose of vaginal misoprostol alone has a success rate comparable with surgical method for termination of early pregnancy. Side effects were fewer in women who received misoprostol, and the method was well accepted.
aDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India
bAll India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Reprint requests: Sudha Prasad, M.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maulana Azad Medical College, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi–110 002, India.
S.P. has nothing to disclose. A.K. has nothing to disclose. A.D. has nothing to disclose.
ABSTRACT