[Oxytocin and misoprostol administered intravaginally for termination of pregnancy at 13 to 29 weeks of amenorrhea. A prospective randomized trial]

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of misoprostol administrated intravaginally alone versus misoprostol with oxytocin infusion for termination of pregnancy at 13 to 29 weeks. Subjects and methods. Ninety women at 13-29 weeks requesting pregnancy termination were randomized to receive 200 microgram of misoprotol intravaginally every 12 hours either with oxytocin infusion or alone for up to 48 hours.

Results: The mean induction to abortion interval was significantly shorter in the misoprostol-oxytocin group than in the misoprostol alone group (22+/-10.8 hours versus 27+/-14.1 hours respectively p<0.05). The 48 hours successful abortion rates were 95% and 90% respectively. Abortion was complete in 79.1% and 62.5% respectively. Side effects were similar between groups.

Conclusion: Vaginal misoprostol associated with oxytocin infusion is more effective than misoprostol alone in termination of second-trimester pregnancy.