Off-label use of misoprostol for labor induction: a nation-wide survey in Switzerland

Off-label use of drugs is frequent in obstetrical practice. No data however are available about nation-wide off-label use in obstetrics regarding frequency and patient information. The objective of our study was to assess the clinical practice of off-label use of misoprostol for labor induction.

Labor induction in preeclampsia: is misoprostol more effective than dinoprostone?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of vaginal misoprostol versus dinoprostone for induction of labor (IOL) in patients with preeclampsia according to the WHO criteria. STUDY DESIGN: Ninety-eight patients were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 47 patients received 3 mg dinoprostone suppositories every 6 h (max. 6 mg/24 h) whereas 51 patients in the misoprostol group received either 50 mug misoprostol vaginally every 12 h, or 25 mug every 6 h (max. 100 mug/24 h). Primary outcomes were vaginal delivery within 24 and 48 h, respectively. RESULTS: The probability of delivering within 48 h was more than three-fold higher in the misoprostol than in the dinoprostone group: odds ratio (OR)=3.48; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24, 10.30, whereas no significant difference was observed within 24 h (P=0.34). No correlation was seen between a ripe cervix prior to IOL and delivery within 24/48 h (P=0.33 and P=1.0, respectively). More cesarean sections were performed in the dinoprostone group due to failed IOL (P=0.0009). No significant differences in adverse maternal outcome were observed between both study groups, whereas more neonates (12 vs. 6) of the dinoprostone group were admitted to the NICU (P=0.068). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that misoprostol may have some advantages compared to dinoprostone, including improved efficacy and lower cost of the drug, even in cases of preeclampsia.

Oral misoprostol for third stage of labor: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether orally administered misoprostol during the third stage of labor is efficient in reducing postpartum blood loss. METHODS: In a double-masked trial, during vaginal delivery women were randomly assigned to receive a single oral dose of misoprostol (600 microg) or placebo in third stage of labor, immediately after cord clamping. The third stage of labor was managed routinely by early cord clamping and controlled cord traction; oxytocin was administered only if blood loss seemed more than usual. Blood loss was estimated by the delivering physician and differences in hematocrit were measured before and after delivery. RESULTS: Mean (+/- standard error of the mean) estimated blood loss (345 +/- 19.5 mL versus 417 +/- 25.9 mL, P = .031) and hematocrit difference (4.5 +/- 0.9% versus 7.9 +/- 1.2%, P = .014) were significantly lower in women who received misoprostol than those who received placebo. Fewer women in the misoprostol group had postpartum hemorrhage (blood loss of at least 500 mL), but that difference was not statistically significant (7% versus 15%, P = .43). Additional oxytocin before or after placental separation was used less often in the misoprostol group (16% versus 38%, P = .047). There were no differences in the length of third stage of labor (8 +/- 0.9 minutes versus 9 +/- 1 minutes, P = .947). There were no differences in pain during third stage of labor, postpartum fever, or diarrhea, but shivering was more frequent in the misoprostol group. CONCLUSION: Oral misoprostol administered in the third stage of labor reduced postpartum blood loss and might be effective in reducing incidence of postpartum hemorrhage.

Complications of misoprostol and other abortion induction methods in the developing world: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review published literature to examine the complications associated with the use of misoprostol and compare these complications to those associated with other forms of abortion induction. ^ DATA SOURCES: Studies were identified through searches of medical literature databases including Medline (Ovid), PubMed (NLM), LILACS, sciELO, and AIM (AFRO), and review of references of relevant articles. ^ STUDY SELECTION AND METHODS: A descriptive systematic review that included studies reported in English and published before December 2012. Eligibility criteria included: misoprostol (with or without other methods) and any other method of abortion in a developing country, as well as quantitative data on the complication of each method. The following is information extracted from each study: author/year, country/city, study design/study sample, age range, setting of data collection, sample size, the method of abortion induction, the number of cases for each method, and the percentage of complications with each method. RESULTS: A total of 4 studies were identified (all in Latin America) describing post-abortion complications of misoprostol and other methods in countries where abortion is generally considered unsafe and/or illegal. The four studies reported on a range of complications including: bleeding, infection, incomplete abortion, intense pelvic pain, uterine perforation, headache, diarrhea, nausea, mechanical lesions, and systemic collapse. The most prevalent complications of misoprostol-induced abortion reported were: bleeding (7-82%), incomplete abortion (33-70%), and infection (0.8-67%). The prevalence of these complications reported from other abortion methods include: bleeding (16-25%), incomplete abortion (15-82%), and infection (13-50%). ^ CONCLUSION: The literature identified by this systematic review is inadequate for determining the complications of misoprostol used in unsafe settings. Abortion is considered an illicit behavior in these countries, therefore making it difficult to investigate the details needed to conduct a study on abortion complications. Given the differences between the reviewed studies as well as a variety of study limitations, it is not possible to draw firm conclusions about the rates of specific-abortion related complications.^

Misoprostol para tratamiento del aborto incompleto en el contexto argentino

Se espera que este documento pueda contribuir a fomentar el compromiso de todos estos actores para requerir que el Estado ponga en marcha los mecanismos necesarios para normatizar y garantizar la disponibilidad y el uso del misoprostol como una droga fundamental para la práctica gineco-obstétrica y comprobados beneficios para la salud y la vida de las mujeres.

Revisión del conocimiento disponible sobre experiencia de las mujeres con el uso del misoprostol en América Latina

El presente informe reporta el desarrollo de una consultoría para el Consorcio Lartinoamericano contra el Aborto Inseguro (CLACAI)basada en una revisión bibliográfica y el diseño metodológico para la gestión de evidencias. El análisis abraca los últimos 10 años sobre la experiencia de las mujeres con el uso del misoprostol en la región latinoamericana.

Introduciendo el uso obstétrico del misoprostol en Costa Rica

El presente informe describe las actividades realizadas con los objetivos de: Desarrollar procesos de información preparatorios para incluir el uso obstétrico del misoprostol en las normas de la Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social (CCSS), relacionado con la Guía de procedimientos para la Interrupción Terapéutica del Embarazo. Desarrollar procesos de capacitación sobre el uso obstétrico del misoprostol, tales como la interrupción terapéutica del embarazo, la inducción de parto y la atención al aborto incompleto.

Uso del misoprostol en la emergencia obstétrica como estrategia para disminuir la muerte materna en la región Piura, Perú

Contiene Guía clínica para uso del misoprostol en ginecología y obstetricia.

Guía clínica para uso del misoprostol en ginecología y obstetricia

La presente guía de uso del misoprostol en ginecología y obstetricia, intenta contribuir a la reducción de la morbimortalidad materna, proporcionar lineamientos técnicos para uso del misoprostol en los establecimientos de salud, en base a la evidencia científica. Y contribuir a mejorar la accesibilidad para la atención de las hemorragias obstétricas, mediante el uso del misoprostol.

Ampliación de la información y disponibilidad de misoprostol en las farmacias comunitarias de Uruguay

Se describé la propuesta llevada adelante en Uruguay por RUDA con el apoyo de CLACAI con el objetivo de construir capacidades para que el personal de farmacias pase a jugar un papel activo en la promoción de los DSSRR de las mujeres, especialmente como facilitadores de información y acceso al misoprostol.

Evidencia sobre el uso de misoprostol para inducir el aborto

Presentación realizada en la Primera Conferencia Latinoamericana Prevención y Atención del Aborto Inseguro. Lima, Perú, 29 y 30 de junio de 2009.

Misoprostol como método para interrumpir el embarazo en el marco de la estrategia de reducción de riesgos y daños en aborto inseguro. Iniciativas sanitarias contra el aborto provocado en condiciones de riesgo (ISCAPCR)

Póster presentado en la Primera Conferencia Latinoamericana Prevención y Atención del Aborto Inseguro. Lima, Perú, 29 y 30 de junio de 2009.