Uterine rupture following prostaglandins use in second trimester medical abortion: Fact or fiction? A systematic review.

Background: Prostaglandins (PGs) have emerged as key drugs in second trimester medical abortion (STMA) and are currently a cornerstone in obstetric practice. Nevertheless, the application of PGs, integral to labor and abortion procedures, is not risk-free, and has been associated with several complications, particularly maternal fever and uterine rupture (UR).

Objectives: The main outcome of the present systematic review was to assess the safety of PGs use in STMA, particularly in scarred uterus (SC).

Search strategy: The review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. We performed a comprehensive systematic review by searching multiple databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, The Cochrane Library, Health Technology Assessment Database, and the research registers of Web of Science during the years 1990-2022.

Selection criteria: Only articles regarding cases of UR occurred after the use of PGs for STMA were included in the article. We excluded papers regarding UR during first trimester abortion induction of labor or pregnancy or unrelated to PGs use for STMA. Risk of bias was assessed employing a modified version of the "Newcastle-Ottawa Scale" (NOS).

Data collection and analysis: A total of 178 studies were initially identified as potentially meeting the criteria for inclusion in the review. After full text evaluation, 110 other articles were excluded and 67 studies that suited the inclusion criteria were included. A total of 19 of the included studies were judged to have a high risk of bias. Given the heterogeneous nature of the findings, we opted for a narrative synthesis of the results.

Main results and conclusions: PGs appear to be an effective pharmacologic tool for STMA; however, their use is not entirely risk-free. STMA requires well-equipped obstetric centers with skilled clinicians and surgeons prepared for emergencies. Ultrasonographic scans should be routinely performed during STMA management, since a UR can also be silent during the induction of labor. Intrapartum transabdominal, transperineal, and transvaginal ultrasound may have the diagnostic potential to early recognize this obstetric emergency, to facilitate rapid medical and surgical treatment, improving the outcome.