Abstract
Objectives: To determine the efficacy and safety of misoprostol in missed miscarriage
Methodology: This descriptive study was were conducted at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MCH Centre, Unit I, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan from July 2010 to June 2011. Seventy women of missed miscarriage were recruited from 19-45 years age group. First dose of misoprostol 800µg was given vaginally in OPD and patients were followed on 3rd and 8th day to see complete evacuation. Second dose of 800µg misoprostol was given on 3rd day, if needed. Hemoglobin (Hb) was checked on 1st and 8th day. Patients who had fall in Hb of more than 2 gm from base line were labeled as group in which drug was unsafe.
Results: Mean age of the study population was 28.00±5.001 year. Majority (45.7%) were from 26-30 years age group. Efficacy rate was 68.6% (n=48), while 31.4% (n=22) had to undergo surgical evacuation. Surgical intervention was needed in 17.6% of primi-gravid patients as compared to 35.9% of multi-gravid patients (p<0.05). Misoprostol was safe in 61 (87.1%) patients, while remaining 9 patients showed Hb level fall more than 2 g/dl. Only two patients needed blood transfusion.
Conclusion: Although the study duration was short and number of patients was small, yet the results show high efficacy and safety of misoprostol in cases of missed miscarriage.

Key words: Efficacy, safety, misoprostol