Maternal death due to unnoticed ectopic pregnancy during prostaglandin-induced abortion.

The use of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) for the termination of pregnancy is quite common and generally is considered safe. Among the complications reported are uterine rupture and dramatic pyrexic and cardiovascular response (6). A case is reported in which a woman with an ectopic pregnancy that had not been noted at ultrasonography was admitted for abortion with PGE2 with fatal outcome. At autopsy an insignificant uterine rupture was noted in addition to the main findings.