Intra-uterine extra-amniotic prostaglandin F2-alpha in the management of patients with intra-uterine fetal death.

The problems of a conservative approach to the management of patients with intra-uterine fetal death are presented, and the technique of intra-uterine, extra-amniotic infusion of prostaglandin F2-alpha (PGF2alpha) is described. This involves the repeated infusion of a solution of PGF2alpha into the extra-amniotic space to induce labour in patients in whom pregnancy is complicated by intra-uterine fetal death. Pregnancy was successfully terminated by this method in 9 patients with intra-uterine fetal death. The mean induction-delivery interval was 10,2 hours. There were no side-effects, and the results were similar to those reported by other authors who used a similar technique of inducing labour. Past and present methods of inducing labour in patients with intra-uterine fetal death are reviewed and discussed.