Management of intrauterine fetal death after 12 weeks gestation: comparison of two prostaglandins

ABSTRACT

Thirty two patients, who had intra-uterine fetal death after 12 weeks of pregnancy were studied to compare the efficacy of 2 different prostaglandin analogues to manage such cases. Dinoprostone given as vaginal tablets was studied in 15 patients, while sulprostone given as intramuscular injections was studied in 17 patients. In sulprostone group expulsion of dead fetus was achieved in 100% of cases at all gestational ages, while in dinoprostone group expulsion achieved only in 26.7% [P <0.001] mostly in those cases at late gestational ages, the number of doses and total doses were significantly [P <0.001] less in sulprostone group. Induction-expulsion time was significantly [P <0.001] less in sulprostone group [8.3 +/- 4.1 hours] than in dinoprostone group [33.4 +/- 16.2 hours]. Complete expulsion was more common [75%] in dinoprostone group than in sulprostone one [35.5%]. Most common complication was emesis [60%] in dinoprostone group and abdominal pains [53%] in sulprostone group