The effectiveness of misoprostol in causing a complete miscarriage in a blighted ovum pregnancy

Abstract EN

Objective: to assess the effectiveness of misoprostol in causing a complete evacuation of the uterus, in a blighted ovum as an alternative to surgical intervention.

design: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

setting: salmaniya medical complex, kingdom of Bahrain.

method: two hundred ninety-five females with a blighted ovum of gestational age up to 12 weeks between 1 January 2008 and 31 august 2013 were included in the study.

the patients were treated with misoprostol according to the international federation of gynecology and obstetrics(figo) regimen and later assessed sonographically for the need of surgical evacuation.

result: two hundred thirty-six (80%) patients had complete miscarriage with misoprostol in a blighted ovum pregnancy.

the surgical evacuation was required in 59 (20%) patients.

advanced maternal age and the increase in gravidity of the patient decreased the response to misoprostol.

gestational weeks had no effect on the medication.

conclusion: misoprostol is a safe and effective way to cause a complete abortion in a pregnancy with blighted ovum during the first trimester; it showed a higher response in younger or primigravida patients.