[Clinical experiences with prostaglandin E 2 and F 2 alpha in the termination of pregnancy and labor induction in intrauterine fetal death].

In 34 cases of therapeutic termination of pregnancy in the second trimester and in 26 cases of fetal death in utero up to the 43rd week of pregnancy, expulsion of the uterine contents was achieved by means of transabdominal-intraamniotic and intravenous administration of prostaglandin (PG) E2 and PGF2lalpha. The average expulsion time was 14 1/2-16h. The following respective doses were needed: for intraamniotic use, 5-25 mg PGE2 and 40-120 mg PGF2alpha, and for intravenous use 5.8-7.3 mg PGE2 and 43.3-52.3 mg PGF2alpha. Two patients required treatment for side effects. These results are compared with existing data from the literature and the clinical application of various prostaglandins is discussed.