Second trimester pregnancy termination with 400 μg vaginal misoprostol: efficacy and safety

The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of misoprostol (400 μg) given intravaginally repeated at 6 hourly intervals for a maximum of 6 doses for second-trimester pregnancy terminations. The study was conducted on women who had to undergo pregnancy termination between 13 and 26 weeks of gestation for various indications but mainly intrauterine death over a period of 2 years. A standard regime of 400 μg of misoprostol 6 hourly intravaginally was given until a maximum of 6 doses. Sixty women underwent second trimester terminations. The mean induction abortion interval was 11.8 h. The success rate at the end of 48 h was 96.6%. Side-effects were in the form of incomplete abortion, excessive blood loss, and fever. No patient had a uterus rupture. Intravaginal misoprostol 400 μg given 6 hourly seems to be an effective, safe, and acceptable method for second trimester pregnancy terminations.