Israel Medical Association Journal

Despite recent advances in the pharmacological and endoscopic treatments for obesity, bariatric surgery is still considered one of the most effective and safe treatments for morbid obesity with over 250,000 bariatric procedures performed each year in the United States. While these procedures are considered safe, they are not free of complications. It has been reported that the primary short-term major complication after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), one-anastomosis (Mini) gastric bypass (OAGB), or sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is gastrointestinal leakage, with a reported leak rate of 0.1–8.3%, 0–5.1%, and 0–7%, respectively [1,2]. While the etiology of gastrointestinal leakage following bariatric procedure is multifactorial, including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors, a single factor can rarely be attributed to this misfortunate complication. We describe a case of a 30-year-old woman who presented on postoperative day (POD) 10 of a OAGB with a gastrointestinal leakage after treated with a high dose of oral misoprostol.

Background: Cases of second trimester pregnancy loss can be treated either pharmacologically or by surgical evacuation. Misoprostol, an E1-prostaglandin analog, is used to facilitate the evacuation of the uterus.

Objectives: To determine the risk factors associated with patients who were treated with five or more repeated doses of misoprostol.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients treated with vaginal misoprostol at our institution between December 2016 and October 2021 for second trimester pregnancy loss.

Results: In total, 114 patients were eligible for analysis; 83 were treated with < 5 doses and 31 with ≥ 5. We recorded each case in which repeated doses were administered, irrespective of predetermined conditions such as gravidity, parity, maternal age, or gestational age. Moreover, cases of five or more misoprostol dosing were not associated with an increased complications rate, except for the increased duration of hospitalization (3.1 vs. 2.2 days, P-value < 0.01).

Conclusions: Repeated dosing could not be predicted before treatment among those treated with vaginally administered misoprostol for second trimester pregnancy loss. However, low complication rates of repeated dosing may reassure both physicians and patients regarding safety, efficacy, and future fertility.

Background: Previous pregnancies may influence the success of medical termination of pregnancy.

Objectives: To determine the effect of parity and gravidity on the successful termination of pregnancy using mifepristone and misoprostol.

Methods: The medical files of all patients attending a department of obstetrics and gynecology during the years 2006 and 2007 for the purpose of medical termination of pregnancy at ≤ 49 days of gestation were analyzed retrospectively. The medical history, previous pregnancies and deliveries were recorded. Mifepristone was administered orally followed by 400 mg of misoprostol 48 hours later. A second dose of misoprostol was offered 2 weeks later if uterine content thickness was more than 15 mm. Then, after 24 hours, if uterine content thickness was more than 15 mm the uterus was evacuated by dilation and curettage.

Results: Of 403 women, 349 (86.6%) aborted following the basic regime; 207 (51.4%) (group A) were primiparous while 196 (48.6%) (group B) had at least one prior pregnancy. Uterine curettage was performed in 17 patients (8.2%) in group A and in 37 (18.9%) in group B (P = 0.002). When patients with a history of a previous abortion were excluded from group B, 32 of 143 (22.4%) required curettage (P < 0.001). When patients without a history of previous cesarean section were excluded, 10 of 52 (19.2%) underwent curettage (P = 0.038).

Conclusions: Previous pregnancies negatively affect the success of medical termination of pregnancy, especially in women with a previous term pregnancy. This information is important when counseling women about the method of pregnancy termination.