Misoprostol versus misoprostol and foley catheter combination in 2nd trimester pregnancy terminations

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy and safety were assessed of a misoprostol regimen used alone or in combination with foley catheter for second trimester pregnancy termination. METHODS: A retrospective examination was made of the records of patients who underwent pregnancy termination at 14-24 weeks of gestation in our university hospital between January 2011 and June 2014. Records were available for patients 378 who underwent terminations. Group 1 comprised patients with no history of cesarean section. An initial dose of 200 μg misoprostol was administered intravaginally and then until the termination was completed an additional 200 μgr dose was administered sublingually every 4 hours (Group 1: 234 patients). Group 2 comprised patients with a history of cesarean section. An initial dose of 200 μg misoprostol was administered intravaginally and 2 hours later an intracervical foley catheter was inserted (Group 2: 144 patients). RESULTS: The total misoprostol dosage used was 1160 μg and 560 μg (p< 0.001), intervals from the administration of the first misoprostol tablet until termination were 854.8 and 704.2 minutes (p= 0.03) in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The misoprostol + foley catheter combination reduces the total dosage of misoprostol required for termination and shortens the termination interval, thereby increasing patient's comfort. Based on these results, the usage of the misoprostol + foley catheter combination can be recommended especially for patients with a history of caesarian section.