Gemeprost in the management of second trimester intrauterine fetal death.

Gemeprost (Cervagem), a synthetic PGE1 prostaglandin analogue was used to induce labour in 20 patients with second trimester intra uterine fetal death. The mean induction abortion interval was 13.8 hours; 17 of the 20 patients delivered within 24 hours. In 17 cases the placenta was retained and the uterus was evacuated under general anaesthesia. Nausea was noted in five (25%) patients, vomiting in two (10%) and diarrhoea in three (15%). No serious side-effects were encountered.