Induction of abortion by intra-amniotic administration of prostaglandin F2 alpha in patients with intrauterine fetal death and missed abortion.

The use of intra-amniotic administration of Prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha in the management of intrauterine fetal death and missed abortion is evaluated in a series of 30 patients. The patients were from 17 to 38 years of age with a median of 25 years. Parity ranged from 0 to three, and duration of gestation ranged from 16 to 37 weeks, with a median of 24 weeks. A single intra-amniotic dose of 40 mg PGF2 alpha was used under direct ultrasound vision. Induction was achieved in all cases. There were 28 complete, and two incomplete terminations. The mean treatment to completion interval for all patients was 5.3 hours. Side effects were minimal: we believe that PGF2 alpha can be safely administered intra-amniotically even with a dead fetus in the uterus and that it can lead to abortion with a minimum of discomfort and danger to the mother.