Termination of mid-trimester pregnancies: misoprostol versus concurrent weighted Foley catheter and misoprostol

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether the use of a weighted trans-cervical fluid-filled Foley’s catheter would improve the effectiveness of 400µg vaginal misoprostol regimen in terminating mid-trimester pregnancies.Methods: This study was conducted at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Menofyia University Hospital in Egypt. Fifty eligible primigravidae were allocated into 2 groups. Termination was carried out in group I using vaginal misoprostol while in group II, a weighted fluid-filled intra-uterine Foley’s catheter was inserted and a similar misoprostol regimen was followed as in group I.Results:The combined group showed shorter induction to termination interval (15.6 ± 4.9 versus 21.9 ± 5.4 hours; P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of side effects between the groups.Conclusion: A combination of a weighted Foley’s catheter and 400µg of vaginal misoprostol every 4 hours is more effective than misoprostol alone in terminating mid-trimester gestations.