[Evaluation of combination RU 486-laminaria tents-misoprostol-peridural anesthesia in second and third trimester induced abortions].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate a new protocol for mid and third trimester medical termination of pregnancy using RU 486-misoprostol-epidural analgesia.

DESIGN AND

SETTING

Monocentric, prospective and descriptive study in a teaching hospital.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Eighty-three women undergoing legal induced abortion during the second and third trimester. Administration of 600 mg mifepristone 36 hours prior to laminaria tents. 48 hours after RU 486, misoprostol was orally given on a 3 hours basis. Epidural analgesia was systematically performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Induction-abortion interval, median dose of misoprostol, maternal complications, number of fetal autopsies obtained within 24 hours.

RESULTS

The mean induction abortion interval was 3 h for multiparas and 4.45 h for nulliparas. The median dose of misoprostol was 800 micrograms. A uterine rupture on a scarred uterus occurred. The rate of fetal autopsies in cases of malformations within 24 hours reached 96%.

CONCLUSIONS

This protocol allows a safe, rapid, cheap and painless late termination of pregnancy, when compared to other protocols.