Intrauterine fetal death : termination of pregnancy withintravaginal prostagladin E2 pessaries

Abstract EN

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of intravaginal prostaglandin E2 pessaries, for the induction of labor in intrauterine fetal death.

Design: Sixty five women at 20-40 weeks gestation, with intrauterine fetal death proved by ultrasound examination and with no history of previous delivery by caesarean section, were treated with 20mgprostaglandin E2 pessaries intravaginaly.

The dose was repeated 8-hourly for up to 48 hours until effective uterine contractions were obtained.

Setting: Patients with intrauterine fetal death who presented to King Hussein Medical Center in the period from 1994 to 1996.

Results: The mean time from induction to delivery was 14 hours, and only 4 patients (6%) required between 30 - 48 hours.

Two patients (3%) required only 4 hours to deliver completely.

Conclusions: The use of prostaglandin E2 vaginal pessaries at a dose of 20mg every 8 hours appears to be a safe, effective, practical method for the termination of pregnancy in intrauterine fetal death.