Prostaglandin (F2 alpha) in missed abortion. Intravenous, extra-amniotic and intramuscular administration--a randomized study.

Prostaglandin F2-alpha was administered by the intravenous, extra-amniotic and intramuscular routes in three comparable groups of patients with missed abortion, during a randomized study. Out of 45 patients (15 in each group), nine patients (60%) of the intravenous group aborted within a mean time of 16.2 hours, whereas 14 patients (93.4%) of the extra-amniotic group and 12 patients (80%) of the intramuscular group aborted in averaged times of 8.2 and 10.6 hours, respectively. The percentage of complete abortions was highest in the intravenous group 88.8%, followed by the intramuscular group (50%), and the extra-amniotic group (35.7%). Side effects of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and shivering were observed in all groups studied, but were marginally higher in the intravenous group.