[Therapeutic abortion intrauterine fetal death in the second trimester. Treatment with a gemeprost-sulprostone combination].
UNLABELLED: This study reports the results obtained in the medical introduction of abortion during the second trimester of pregnancy in 52 patients following intrauterine fetal death or the diagnosis of fetal malformations. METHODS: The protocol consisted of the alternate use of intravaginal suppositories of gemeprost and intramuscular injections of sulprostone. The results were analysed using statistical methods and evaluated in relation to the different parameters present (intrauterine fetal death or therapeutic abortion, maternal age, gestation period and parity). RESULTS: It was seen that the time required to induce abortive labour was significantly shorter in patients with IFD compared to patients with live fetus. The comparison between patients with a gestation period < or > 18 weeks revealed shorter induction times in the former group without reaching statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal age (under and over 30) and parity (P = 0 and P > or = 1) did not influence the results obtained.