Does feticide shorten termination duration in second trimester pregnancy terminations?

BACKROUND: A retrospective (case-controlled) study was conducted with the aim of identifying the effect of the use of misoprostol on termination time in patients who did and did not undergo feticide procedures in second trimester pregnancy terminations.
METHODS: The sampling of the study consisted of 144 pregnant women who were diagnosed as having major fetal anomalies incompatible with life, and were recommended for termination of pregnancy. The investigation showed that feticide procedures were performed for 99 women, and feticide procedures were not performed for 45 women. Misoprostol protocol was administered for 48 hours in the termination period; whether the feticide procedure directly affected the termination duration in patients who did and did not undergo feticide was evaluated.
RESULTS: Abortion/birth was achieved in 103 (71.5%) women during the first 48 hours. There was no significant difference between the termination duration of the misoprostol protocol among the women who did and did not undergo feticide. There was no significant difference between the termination durations and fetal biometric measurements (BPD, HC) except head diameters (p=0.020 and p=0.015).
CONCLUSIONS: The misoprostol protocol is shown to be effective and safe for the termination of pregnancies during the second trimester. Feticide has no affect on the duration of termination.

Introduction

Fetal abnormality is known to be a major cause of perinatal mortality. Termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormalities significantly decreases perinatal mortality resulting from birth defects1,2. Fetal morphologic anomalies (without chromosomal anomalies) and chromosomal anomalies formed the main grounds for termination of pregnancy in 39% and 35% of cases, respectively, in a study by Guillem et al.3 and 47% and 33%, respectively, in another study by Ramalho et al.4. Pregnancies may need to be terminated during the second trimester due to fetal or maternal reasons. Dilation and curettage is the most preferred method for the termination of pregnancies during the first trimester, but termination with this method during the second trimester is likely to cause problems. The width of fetal-placental units, increased uterine blood flow, and the unripe cervix complicate the procedure during the second trimester5. Termination during the second trimester is achieved with prostaglandins in today's world. Misoprostol (15-deoxy-16-hydroxy-16-methyl prostaglandin E1) is a synthetic Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) analogue. PGE1 is used in the induction of labor because of its uterotonic effects and it provides cervical ripening6.

Due to easy storage at room temperature, cost-effectiveness and availability, misoprostol is the drug of choice. Misoprostol is successfully used in oral, sublingual, intravaginal, intracervical, and rectal forms in the termination of pregnancies7,8. However, there is no consensus about which route is the most effective and least likely to cause adverse effects in the termination of second trimester pregnancies. The half life of oral misoprostol is 20–40 minutes, the dose is between 200–800 µg, and application frequency is between 3–12 hours. Its adverse effects on the gastrointestinal system including nausea, vomiting, fatigue, trembling, and fever are limited6–8. If the application route is disregarded, the adverse effects are dependent on the dose.

We aimed to investigate the effect of the use of oral misoprostol after 200 mcg vaginal misoprostol (PGE1-Cytotec) administration on the termination duration in patients who did and did not undergo feticide in second trimester pregnancy terminations.

Materials and methods

The files of 905 pregnant women who presented to the pre-natal diagnosis unit in Süleymaniye Gynecology and Obstetrics Education and Training Hospital, and were diagnosed as having fetal anomalies in second trimester colour Doppler ultrasonography screening between 2009 and 2014 were retrospectively investigated. 455 out of 905 pregnant women were diagnosed as having major fetal anomalies incompatible with life, and were recommended termination of pregnancy. The ultrasonographic screening of 450 pregnant women revealed minor fetal anomalies compatible with life, and termination was not recommended. The detected major and minor anomalies were central nervous system anomalies, cardiovascular system anomalies, chromosomal anomalies detected in amniocentesis, skeletal system anomalies, and urinary system anomalies.

Two hundred fourteen out 455 pregnant women who were recommended termination accepted to terminate the pregnancy, and 241 pregnant women refused to terminate pregnancy. One hundred forty-four pregnant women out of 214 who accepted termination were included in the study in accordance with the sample inclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria were pregnancies with fetal anomalies that were incompatible with life in the second trimester; being aged over 15 years; Bishop score of 3 or below in bimanual examination; and pregnancies with no placental location anomalies. The exclusion criteria were the pregnancies with major fetal anomalies that were incompatible with life in the first and third trimester; being aged younger than 15 years; having been diagnosed with systemic and chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes mellitus, eclampsia-preeclampsia, and asthma; initiated active labor action; Bishop scoring over 3; pregnancies with minor or major fetal anomalies that were compatible with life.

The study was conducted in the perinatology and delivery room unit in Süleymaniye Gynecology and Obstetrics Education and Training Hospital after the approval of the hospital education and planning board and ethics board were granted.

Feticide procedures were performed (case group) for 99 pregnant women out of 144 who were recommended termination. Feticide procedures were not performed (control group) for 45 pregnant women. The feticide procedures were performed by the same physician under transabdominal ultrasonography guidance with a percutaneous injection of potassium chloride (KCL) solution (1.5 g KCL in 10 mL) to the fetal heart or umbilical cord using a 20-gauge spinal needle.

Bimanual examinations of the pregnant women were performed in the delivery room unit. Two hundred micrograms of dry misoprostol (Cytotec ® 200 mcg tablet × 1, Ali Raif Drug Industry Inc., Istanbul, Turkey) was placed into the vaginal posterior fornix. A maximum of 4 doses of oral 400 mcg misoprostol (Cytotec® 200 mcg tablet x, 1 Ali Raif Drug Industry Inc., Istanbul, Turkey) was administered every 4 hours to women who had no history of previous cesarean section, and a maximum 8 doses of oral 200 mcg misoprostol were administered every 4 hours to women with a history of previous cesarean section. The women were followed up for 48 hours, after which their condition was evaluated. Misoprostol treatment was accepted as unsuccessful in patients whose pregnancies were not terminated after 48 hours. In unsuccessful cases, additional procedures such as induction with oxytocin (20 drops per minute with 5 IU oxytosin into 500 cc of 5% dextrose) and placement of a Foley catheter into the uterine cavity were performed (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Consort Flow Diagram

The NCSS 2007 and PASS 2008 statistical software (Utah, USA) program was used for statistical analyses for the evaluation of the findings of the study. Pearson's correlation analysis was used for the detection of relationships between the parameters, and the effects of gestational week, biparietal diameter, and head circumference on the termination time were evaluated using linear regression analysis. P values <0.05 were considered significant.

Results

The demographic features of the 144 patients are given in Table 1. The mean age of the patients was 27.47±6.0 years. The mean gravida was 2.43±1.56, the mean parity was 1.76±1.06, the mean number of abortions was 1.48±0.96, and the mean gestational week was 21.35±4.46. 40 patients were nulliparous, and 104 were multiparous. 44 out of 104 multiparous patients had experienced one or more cesarean deliveries. The mean termination times of the patients was 34.60±27.31 hours.

Table 1

Distribution of Demographic Characteristics

Demographic Characteristics	Feticide	Feticide
	Performed (n=99)	Not Performed (n=45)
Age (years) (Mean±SD)	26.56±5.0	28.32±7.1
Gravida (Mean±SD)	2.33±1.61	2.63±1.09
Parity (Mean±SD)	1.75±0.92	1.77±1.1
Number of Abortions (Mean±SD)	1.50±0.99	1.52±0.82
Nulliparous (n/percent)	30 (30.3%)	10 (22.2%)
Multiparous (n/percent)	69 (69.7%)	35 (77.7
Previous cesarean-section (n/percent)	32 (32.3%)	12 (26.7%)

The distribution of the fetal anomalies of the 144 patients who were diagnosed as having major fetal anomalies incompatible with life is given in Table 2.

Table 2

Distributions according to anomaly type

Anomaly types	Feticide Performed (n=99) n (%)	Feticide Not Performed (n=45) n (%)	Total (N=144) n (%)
CNS	25 (25.3)	11 (24.5)	36 (25)
Multiple	24 (24.2)	9 (20.0)	33 (22.9)
CVS	19 (19.2)	10 (22.2)	29 (20.1)
Chromosomal	9 (9.1)	4 (8.9)	13 (9.1)
Skeletal system	7 (7.1)	4 (8.9)	11 (7.6)
Urinary system	5 (5.1)	2 (4.4)	7 (4.9)
GIS	2 (2.0)	-	2 (1.4)
Other	8 (8.1)	5 (11.1)	13 (9)
Total	99 (100)	45 (100)	144 (100)

Among the 144 patients, the number of women with a history of cesarean sections was 44. The minimum and maximum values of abortion/birth intervals in patients with a history of cesarean section were 5 hours and 106 hours, respectively; with a mean of 32±30 hours and a median of 18 hours. The minimum and maximum values of abortion/birth intervals in multiparous women with no history of cesarean section were 2 hours and 94 hours respectively; with a mean of 23.6±22.5 hours and a median of 14.5 hours. The minimum and maximum values of abortion/birth intervals in nulliparous patients without previous cesarean section were 7 hours and 126 hours, respectively; with a mean of 32.9±24.2 hours and a median of 27 hours. The time from the initiation of medicine until abortion in nulliparous patients was statistically significantly longer compared with multiparous patients (p<0.05). The dispersion according to abortion/birth intervals is presented in Table 3.

Table 3

Dispersion according to abortion/birth intervals (N=144)

Abortion/Birth Intervals	Minimum	Maximum	Mean±SD	Median
	(hours)	(hours)	(hours)	(hours)
Multiparous (without history of cesarean section n=60)	2	94	23.6±22.5	14.5
Nulliparous (n=40)	7	126	32.9±24.2	27
Those with histories of caesarian sections (n=44)	5	106	32.0±30.0	18

Feticide was achieved in 99 (68.8%) of the 144 women before the administration of misoprostol. In 71.5% (n=103), abortion/birth occurred in 48 hours.

In 41 (28.5%) women, misoprostol failed. Misoprostol+oxytocin was administered to 24 (16.3%) of the 41 unsuccessful cases; misoprostol+Foley+oxytocin were administered to 12 (8.3%) of the 41 unsuccessful cases, hysterotomy was performed for the 5 remaining patients whose labor action was unsuccessful.

Feticide was not performed to the remaining 45 cases. The termination durations of the women with and without feticide were examined. The efficacy of the misoprostol protocol was evaluated and compared between the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of termination durations between the groups (p>0.05) (Table 4).

Table 4

The evaluation of the gestational weeks and termination durations, and termination condition of women who did and did not undergo feticide

The evaluation of cases	Feticide Performed (n=99)	Feticide Not performed (n=45)	p
Termination status
Successful n (%)	70 (70.7)	33 (73.3)	0.861*
Unsuccessful n (%)	29 (29.3)	12 (26.7)
Gestational Week (Mean±SD)	21.24±3.63	21.31±3.43	NS**
Termination duration; hours (median)	35.37±27.55	32.42±27.04	NS***

Fisher's exact test

Student's t-test

Mann-Whitney U test

NS: Not Significant

Although there were no statistically significant differences between the termination durations and femur length (FL) and abdominal circumference (AC) measurements (p>0.05), a statistically significant inverse relationship was detected with bi-parietal diameter (BPD) (termination duration is found to shorten with BPD increase) at a level of 34.3%. A statistically significant inverse relationship was detected between termination duration and head circumference (HC) (termination duration is found to shorten with HC increase) at a level of 36.3% (Table 5, Figure 1, Figure 2).

Table 5

The relationships of BPD, HC, AC, and FL to termination durations

	Termination Durations
	r	p
FL	0.150	0.192
BPD	−0.343	0.020*
HC	−0.363	0.015*
AC	−0.256	0.066

r: Pearson's correlation coefficient

BPD: Biparietal diamater, AC: Abdominal circumference, FL: Femur length, HC: Head circumference

Figure 2

The relationship between termination duration and BDP

30 of the 44 patients with previous cesarean section resulted in abortion and the success rate was found as 68.9%. In terms of complications, 7 (4.8%) patients had nausea, 5 (3.45%) had vomiting, 6 (4.1%) had diarrhea, 20 (13.8%) had fever, 9 (6.25%) had headache and dizziness, and failure of method was determined in 41 (28.4%) patients. 90 (62.5%) of the remaining 144 women had incomplete abortions and required curettage. In our study, the high rate of curettage after abortion was due to strict control measures for bleeding after abortion and routine cavity control for retained placenta.

Discussion

In our retrospectively conducted study, we evaluated the diagnostic and treatment methods as well as the resulting complications of women who were diagnosed as having fetal anomalies; therefore, determining the dispersion of these women according to anomaly type. Abortion/birth was achieved in 71.5% (103 cases) of women during the first 48 hours. There was no significant difference between the termination durations of the misoprostol protocol among women in whom feticide was and was not performed. There was no significant difference between the termination durations and fetal biometric measurements, except for head diameters.

Gedikbaşı et al.9 evaluated 677 patients and divided these patients into two groups: early termination (<23 weeks) and late termination (>23 weeks). The most common indications in their study were central nervous system anomalies (57.7%), chromosome anomalies (11.7%), urogenital anomalies (8.4%), cardiovascular system anomalies (4%), hydrops (3.8%), and maternal infections and diseases (3.2%). In multiple pregnancies, high incidences of fetal structural and chromosomal anomalies were detected, along with poor maternal and fetal outcomes. Guillem et al.10 scanned a total of 996 patients between 1989 and 2000 and detected fetal structural anomalies in 39% and chromosome anomalies in 35%. Different from these studies, central nervous system anomalies were detected as 25%, cardiovascular system anomalies as 20.2%, and chromosomal anomalies as 9.18% in our study. The number of patients who met the inclusion criteria of our study was smaller.

In our study, abortion/birth occurred in 48 hours with oral-vaginal misoprostol in 71.5% (n=103) of the women. The method was deemed unsuccessful if abortion/birth did not occur in 48 hours and abortion was achieved with additional methods. In 41 (28.5%) women, misoprostol failed. Misoprostol+oxytocin was administered to 24 (16.3%) of the 41 unsuccessful cases; misoprostol+-Foley+oxytocin was administered to 12 (8.3%) of the 41 unsuccessful cases, hysterotomy was performed for the 5 remaining patients whose labor action was unsuccessful. Öztürka et al11 administered 100 mcg misoprostol (Cytotec 200 mcg/2) into the posterior fornix of the vagina followed by 100 mcg misoprostol (Cytotec 200 mcg/2) every two hours to the 30 cases in the oral group in their study that compared sublingual, vaginal, and oral uses of misoprostol. The same doses were repeated to women who did not have their abortions in 24 hours and their conditions at the end of 48 hours were evaluated. The success rates in the first 24 and 48 hours were 83.3% (n=25) and 90% (n=27), respectively. The success rate in the first 48 hours in that study was higher compared with our study. Different than this study, patients with Bishop scores of 3 and below who had no active labor action were included in our study, and the number of patients in their study was smaller compared with our study.

History of cesarean section operations has become common among patients for whom second trimester termination is planned due to increasing rates of cesarean section in today's practice. In women who have had previous cesarean section, uterine ruptures caused by misoprostol cause concerns regarding the use of this drug12. Despite the increasing number of publications reporting that misoprostol can be safely used in patients with transverse incisions in the lower segment of the uterus for termination of pregnancies in the second trimester, the real incidence of uterine rupture risk remains unknown13. There are studies reporting that misoprostol use is not contraindicated in patients whose histories are positive for cesarian section operations, but also warning that caution must be taken in their follow-ups due to the high risk of uterine rupture12–14. In addition, the safety of misoprostol use for termination of second trimester pregnancies in women with uterine scars is still controversial. Many women with uterine ruptures that occur during the second trimester have a history of previous uterine surgeries15. In a study on 720 patients between the gestational weeks of 14–28 who had terminations in the second trimester, 78 had one, 19 had two, and 4 had three previous cesarean section operation histories; Dickinson reported no rupture cases and also that misoprostol was safe to use in patients with histories of cesarian section operations16. In their retrospective analysis of 91 patients, Aslan et al.17 proved that misoprostol induction doubled the risk of uterine ruptures in patients with histories of cesarian section operations and urged caution in terms of maternal safety. In our study, 44 women had uterine scars due to previous cesarean sections. The minimum and maximum doses of misoprostol administered in this group were 3 and 9 doses respectively, with a mean of 5±3 doses. The minimum and maximum times until the abortion were 5 hours and 106 hours, respectively, with a mean of 32±30 hours. The success rate in the first 48 hours was 68% (n=30). Although the number of women with histories of cesarean section operations was low, we detected no complications secondary to the use of misoprostol.

Placenta retention or incomplete abortions are important problems that may arise after terminations in the second trimesters and require surgical intervention. In the first studies regarding misoprostol use for this purpose, more than 80% of patients were reported to require curettage18,19. In our study, 90 (62.5%) of the remaining 144 women had incomplete abortions and required curettage. In Ozturka et al.s' study regarding the comparison of sublingual, vaginal, and oral misoprostol use for second trimester terminations, the incomplete abortion rate was found to be high and similar in all three groups (sublingual 70%, vaginal 69%, and oral 85.2%)11. Bugallo et al.20 reported 89% complete abortion rates in patients until their 22nd gestational weeks.

There was no difference between the women who did and did not undergo feticide in terms of durations of termination or complications in our study. Srisomboon et al. compared the abortion success rates of 89 women with dead and alive fetuses following intravaginal misoprostol administrations at the 12th, 24th, and 48th hours, and reported the abortion rates as 50%, 83% and 97% and 15%, 54% and 92.5% respectively. The abortion success rate of intravaginal misoprostol at the 12th and 24th hours was significantly lower in alive fetuses as compared with dead fetuses, but the success rates at the 48th hour were the same. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of complications at the 12th, 24th, and 48th hours21. In one study, the effect of feticide on the duration of labor induction was examined retrospectively and there was no significant difference noticed in the outcome except that the group with feticide tended to have more procedures in the form of manual extraction of placenta or uterine curettage or both (82.9 vs. 65.6%, P = 0.01)22. The results also showed that performing feticide procedures had no effect on the termination duration.

Another important point of our study is the comparison of BPD, AC, HC, and FL measurements as factors affecting termination duration and the conclusion that termination duration shortens as BPD and HC increases. However, AC and FL were not observed to have a direct effect on termination duration.

Conclusion

The use of misoprostol had no effect on termination duration in patients who did and did not undergo feticide procedures in second trimester pregnancy terminations. The administration of misoprostol treatment protocol is effective, safe, and successful in pregnant women with fetal anomalies incompatible with life. Misoprostol decreases the abortion time, and reduces maternal mortality and morbidity.