Objectives: To assess the effectiveness, safety and acceptability of intracervical foley catheter and vaginal misoprostol versus vaginal misoprostol for termination of second trimester pregnancy.
Methods:This clinical study was conducted on 200 pregnant patients intended for termination of pregnancy between 13-24 gestational weeks for any indication. Enrolled women were equally allocated into two groups:Group I (Misoprostol group): a standard regimen of moistened misoprostol tablets (400 μg) 4 hourly inserted vaginally.
Group II (Combined group):intracervical Foley catheter inserted with a standard regimen of moistened misoprostol tablets (400 μg) 4 hourly intravaginally was used.Procedure efficacy (defined as complete abortion performed on site), safety and acceptability were assessed.
Results:The induction to abortion interval was 8.16 ± 1.52 hours in the combined group compared to 12.76 ± 1.63 hours in the misoprostol group (P value<0.001) with success rate of 96% in the combined group and no major complications reported.
Conclusions:Combined use of intracervical foley catheter and vaginal misoprostol is a novel safe, effective and acceptable method for termination of second trimester pregnancy. Synopsis: Combined use of intracervical foley catheter and vaginal misoprostol is a novel safe, effective and acceptable method for termination of second trimester pregnancy.