Mifepristone and misoprostol versus Dilapan and sulprostone for second trimester termination of pregnancy

Objective. To compare two methods for second trimester termination of pregnancy: mifepristone and misoprostol versus Dilapan and sulprostone. Methods. This was a randomized study involving 16 patients with a singleton live fetus with congenital malformations or genetic disorders. Eight patients were treated with 200mg mifepristone orally followed by 200g misoprostol vaginally 3 hourly and eight patients received a sulprostone infusion after cervical dilatation with Dilapan. Results. Mifepristone and misoprostol had a mean induction interval of 17.8 hours and sulprostone and Dilapan 20.9 hours. The mean induction interval did not differ significantly. Mean hospital stay was shorter in the patients treated with misoprostol: 2.1 vs. 3.3 days (p=0.02) with a 95% confidence interval of -2.1 to 0.3. Conclusion. Mifepristone and misoprostol did not reduce the induction interval significantly compared to the sulprostone and Dilapan treatment for second trimester pregnancy termination. Hospital admission was significantly shorter in patients treated with mifepristone and misoprostol.