Neonatal morbidity and outcome of live born premature babies after attempted illegal abortion with misoprostol.

Escumalha, M; Cunha, M; Machado, MC; Gouveia, C; Vale, F

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.10/648

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Pediatr Nurs. 2005 May-Jun, 31(3) 228-31.pdf		143 KB	Adobe PDF	Download

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Abstract(s)

Misoprostol is a synthetic prostaglandin currently employed to induce labor. Association with illegal abortion has been reported; however, neonatal outcome and morbidity after a failed attempt of abortion has not been described. OBJECTIVES: To report the association between misoprostol self-medication and preterm labor and to assess perinatal risk factors, morbidity and early outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of all very low birth weight (VLBW) infants delivered in Hospital Fernando Fonseca, during a 5-year period. VLBW infants were assigned to misoprostol group (MG) when preterm delivery was attributed to misoprostol and matched with newborns with similar gestational age, birth- weight, and gender. RESULTS: During the study period 311 VLBW infants were born. Nineteen belonged to misoprostol group (MG) and 58 were selected for controls. Mothers from MG were significantly younger (21.5 vs 27.5, p = 0.001) and from African origin (74 vs 31%, p = 0.006), had significantly less prenatal care (21 vs 67%, p = 0.000), less antenatal steroids (5 vs 50%, p = 0.001), and were delivered less often by C-section (11 vs 60%, p = 0.000). MG infants had significantly higher rates of patent ductus arteriosus (58 vs 29%, p = 0.031) and chronic lung disease (47 vs 14%, p = 0.026). Mortality rate at 3 months was similar in both groups, but the incidence of abnormal neurodevelopment at 1 year of age was significantly higher in the MG (50 vs 16%, p= 0.02).