[A new prostaglandin E1 analog in late interruption of pregnancy, in utero deaths and very premature ruptures of the membranes. Apropos of 117 cases].

The authors have used suppositories containing 1 mg of an analogue of PGE1 in 117 cases. The indication was fetal abnormality or fetal disease in 85 cases, fetal death in utero in 24 cases and very premature rupture of the membranes in 8 cases. The pessaries have a number of advantages over the techniques that were employed previously; intra-amniotic injection and intra-cervical perfusion of PGF2. The method is very efficacious: 98.3% successes. There was no failure in the series of intra-uterine fetal deaths. Placing the pessaries in the posterior vaginal fornix is easy and the technique does not consist of any manipulation. Not having to put any laminary tents in and no early rupture of the membranes has made it possible to avoid infection except in 1.7% of cases. The incidence of heavy bleeding was exceptionally low: 0.8%. As far as the dangers of rupture of the uterus or of tears in the cervix, this was minimal. Picking cases for correct indications, using doses adapted to each patient and careful observation by a team who are used to dealing with terminations of pregnancy and their techniques should lower the risk. The time spent in hospital is lessened: on an average 3 days. The fetus that is expelled is never macerated, which is important in order to be able to find out all the facts necessary to give good genetic counselling to a couple who have been profoundly traumatised.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)