Continuous monitoring of uterine contractions to control intra-amniotic administration of prostaglandin F2 alpha for therapeutic and missed abortion.

Intra-amniotic prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) was administered to 10 patients for midtrimester therapeutic abortion and to 20 patients for missed abortion. An epidural catheter was placed into the amniotic cavity and the other end was connected to a physiological pressure transducer to measure the uterine contractions continuously. The dosage was adjusted according to the uterine contractions, and was therefore individualized for each patient. Half the patients with therapeutic abortion required PGF2 alpha 30 mg or less, and only 20% of patients with missed abortion needed more than 30 mg. Complications such as uterine cervical lacerations could be prevented by administration of the correct dosage of prostaglandin in each case.