Abstract
Misoprostol is widely used as an efficacious method for abortion. However, its dose requires to be decreased to avoid the associated complications. This study was performed to evaluate the value of adding intracervical Foley’s catheter with intravaginal misoprostol in the termination of second trimester pregnancy. This prospective randomized study included 112 cases who were divided into two equal groups; Group A included 56 cases who were commenced on misoprostol alone, and Group B included the remaining cases who were subjected to misoprostol together with cervical foley’s catheter. Our primary outcome was induction to abortion interval, while secondary outcomes included total misoprostol dose, failure rate, duration of hospital stay, complication rate and patient satisfaction.Despite the insignificant difference between the two groups regarding general patient criteria, both induction to abortion interval and total misoprostol consumption showed a significant decrease in Group A. Failure was more encountered in the Group B (16.07% vs. 10.71% in Group A) but that difference was statistically nonsignificant. The incidence of complications (fever, cervical lacerations) was comparable between both groups. Hospital stay showed a significant decrease in Group A (p = 0.021) while patient satisfaction was significantly better in this group (p = 0.015).Application of catheter is associated with a decreased induction to abortion interval, decreased misoprostol consumption, decreased hospital stay, and better patient satisfaction with a comparable complication profile to misoprostol alone.

Key words: Abortion; Second trimester; Misoprostol; Foley’s catheter.