Publication:

A study to compare combination of Foley’s catheter with misoprostol versus mifepristone with misoprostol in second trimester abortion

Background Second trimester abortion, which is the interruption of pregnancy between 13 and 28 weeks of gestation, accounts for roughly 10–15% of all induced abortions worldwide. Although second trimester procedures are less common than first trimester ones, they account for an unequal share of abortion-related complications and maternal health issues due to the later gestational age at which they are performed. Typical reasons for second trimester abortions include fetal abnormalities found during standard ultrasounds, intrauterine fetal death, and maternal health concerns like severe hypertension, heart disease, or mental health disorders.

Methods Study was carried out at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, R.N.T. Medical College, Udaipur (Rajasthan). Study period: April 2024 to March 2025.

Results Findings indicate that a method-wise comparison of two protocols for second trimester abortion—Foley catheter with Misoprostol and Mifepristone with Misoprostol, involving 33 participants each. The average interval from induction to abortion was notably reduced in the Foley group (11.27±3.36 hours) in contrast to the Mifepristone group (29.75±3.92 hours), with a p-value of 0.0, reflecting strong statistical significance. The median induction time was 10.4 hours for Foley and 29.1 hours for Mifepristone, with the overall induction time varying from 5.1 to 18.2 hours in the Foley group and 24.2 to 37.6 hours in the Mifepristone group.

Conclusions To conclude, the Foley catheter combined with misoprostol is a quicker and more economical approach, making it especially appropriate for low-resource environments or scenarios that require reduced induction times. Conversely, mifepristone combined with misoprostol offers a more thorough and dependable uterine evacuation, minimizing the requirement for surgical procedures.