The significant need to conduct second trimester abortions safely is being addressed by the use of a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, though their dosage regimen continue to be debated. The present study was conducted on 50 selected women in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam, from April 2014 to October 2015 to determine the safety and efficacy of 200mg of mifepristone orally followed 24hrs. later by 400mcg of misoprostol administered vaginally every 6hrs. upto a maximum of 5 doses, which is the regimen recommended by FOGSI and the results were analysed. The mean induction abortion interval (IAI) was 10.08±2.9hrs. and 76% of cases had IAI of ≤12hrs. The side effects were few and manageable. Hence, the above regimen should be used for safe and effective termination of a second trimester pregnancy.
KEYWORDSAbortion, Mifepristone, Misoprostol, Second trimester.
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INTRODUCTIONAbortion is the single most common procedure performed for women worldwide. Second trimester abortions constitute 10-15% of all induced abortions worldwide, but are responsible for two-thirds of all major abortion-related complications. Medical abortion, the termination of pregnancy through the use of a drug or a combination of drugs has the potential to reduce complications. Though the medical abortions upto nine weeks of gestation were approved in some countries by 1992, the approval for the use of the above drugs for second trimester abortion was obtained in these countries only in 1999-2000. The optimal method of second trimester abortion continues to be debated. Advantage of medical abortion in second trimester includes the scope for examination of the fetus in abortions done for fetal anomalies to further evaluate the subsequent risk of recurrence and provide information to help in counseling of these patients, which is not possible if dilatation and evacuation is the method chosen. [1] The most commonly used combination is mifepristone taken first and misoprostol administered 24-48 hours later. Mifepristone an antiprogesterone leads to cervical softening, increased uterine sensitivity to prostaglandins and conversion of the quiet pregnant uterus into an organ of spontaneous activity with maximal effect at 36-48 hours. [2] Misoprostol a synthetic PGE-1 analogue induces cervical ripening as well as strong uterine contractions and leads to expulsion of a pregnancy. The oral tablet is effective in different routes of administration and the dose of prostaglandin can be easily adjusted according to need.