Misoprostol in the management of missed abortion.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effect of vaginal misoprostol with that of placebo when used prior to dilation and aspiration in women with a missed abortion.

METHOD: Eighty-four pregnant women with a missed abortion were randomized to receive either vaginal misoprostol (200 micrograms) or placebo the day before the planned dilatation and aspiration under inhalation anesthesia.

RESULT: Thirty-five women (83.33%) in the misoprostol group and 6 women (17.14%) in the placebo group aborted spontaneously prior to the scheduled dilatation and aspiration, P < 0.0001. The mean insertion to spontaneous expulsion time was 11.63 +/- 6.14 h in the misoprostol group compared to 11.95 +/- 5.43 h in placebo. In the misoprostol group two women required intramuscular pethidine for analgesia. In the placebo group there were two cases of blood loss in excess of 500 ml and one woman with a uterine perforation.

CONCLUSION

Vaginal administration of misoprostol to women with a missed abortion produced spontaneous expulsion of the pregnancy and reduced the need for surgical treatment.