Evaluation of intravaginal misoprostol for medical management of pregnancies less than 20 weeks of gestation with absent cardiac activity

AIM To assess the efficacy and side-effects of misoprostol (800 microg used intravaginally) for terminating non-viable pregnancies up to 20 weeks of gestation. METHODS Sixty five patients with non-viable pregnancies up to 20 weeks of gestation were given 800 microg misoprostol intravaginally on day 1. A second dose of 800 microg was repeated after 24 h if complete abortion was not attained with one dose. Primary outcome measure was success (defined as complete abortion in 48 h without surgical intervention). Duration and amount of blood loss, fall in hemoglobin, and other side-effects (pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and chills) were studied as secondary outcome measures. RESULTS 73.8% of our patients had a gestational age