Open AccessA medical approach to management of spontaneous abortion using misoprostol
Author(s) -
Chung Tony,
Leung Peter,
Cheung Lai Ping,
Haines Christopher,
Chang Allan M Z
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0412.1997.tb07854.x
Subject(s) - misoprostol , medicine , products of conception , curettage , abortion , obstetrics , incomplete abortion , vacuum aspiration , regimen , ectopic pregnancy , gynecology , pregnancy , surgery , family planning , population , research methodology , genetics , environmental health , biology
Background. To compare a 48 hour non surgical policy in the management of spontaneous abortion with a policy of routine, universal uterine curettage. Methods. A prospective, observational study on 354 women admitted to hospital with spontaneous abortion. Of these, 225 who had retained products of conception were treated with misoprostol for up to 48 hours after 101 were excluded because they had an empty uterus on transvaginal scan (TVS) and another 28 women because they were unsuitable for conservative management. Follow‐up was conducted over a 3 week period to assess morbidity. A reference group of 137 women, all of whom had an evacuation of retained products of cenception (ERPC) as a routine after they had a TVS documenting retained products of conception (POCs), was used for comparison. Results. Evacuation of the uterus occurred within 24 hours in 107 women and in 148 at 48 hours after misoprostol treatment was started. There were three uterine curettages up to 14 days after discharge from hospital for persistent bleeding and two cases of pelvic infection. An ectopic pregnancy was diagnosed at follow‐up in one woman. In the reference group, there were nine women who had complications, four requiring another ERPC and five had infection, an overall complication rate of 6.6% in the reference group and 1.7 % in the protocol treatment group. Conclusion A 48 hour regimen using transvaginal ultrasound and misoprostol for the management of spontaneous abortion was successful in avoiding surgery in 249 out of a possible 354 (70.6″ i) women with spontaneous abortion, with a low rate of subsequent morbidity.