Effect of the addition of osmotic dilators to medical induction of labor abortion: a before-and-after study

Abstract Objectives The main objective of this study was to assess the induction-to-delivery interval with or without the use of osmotic dilators for induced abortion. As secondary objectives, women outcomes were assessed. Study design This retrospective single-center observational before and after study reviewed records from a university hospital maternity unit from 2002 through 2016 and included all women undergoing abortion for medical reasons at and after 14 weeks of gestation. Two groups were compared: group “no dilators”, which used first misoprostol without dilators, and group “dilators”, which used osmotic dilators before misoprostol administration. The main outcome was the induction-to-delivery interval. Results The study included 491 women: 383 in group “no dilators” and 108 in group “dilators”. The induction–delivery interval was significantly lower in the group “dilators” compared to “no dilators” (427.7 min vs 639.7 min, P  Conclusion The use of osmotic dilators for cervical ripening before administration of misoprostol for induced abortion appears to be effective in reducing the induction-delivery interval.