Termination of third-trimester pregnancy before term with gemeprost vaginal pessaries

Determination of the efficacy and side-effects of the synthetic prostaglandin analog gemeprost for termination of pregnancy in the third trimester.

Retrospective record study of 40 women who had undergone third trimester termination of pregnancy before term by serial administration of gemeprost because of intrauterine fetal death or hopeless fetal prognosis. Patients with multiple pregnancy, a Bishop score > 5, contractions or contraindications to prostaglandins were excluded.

Gemeprost vaginal pessaries (1-mg) were given at 6-hourly intervals until labor intervened. The main parameter studied was the induction-delivery interval, the length of time between administration of the first dose and delivery. Statistical analysis was performed with the chi-square and the Mann-Whitney U-test.

The median induction-delivery interval was 14.4 h (range 3-48 h). Delivery occurred within 12 h in 17 women (42.5%), within 24 h in 27 women (67.5%) and within 36 h in 37 women (92.5%). An average of 2.6 doses were given per patient. Multigravidae had a significantly shorter induction-delivery interval than primigravidae (p < 0.01). A total of 87.5% women required analgesia. Side-effects were infrequent.

The administration of gemeprost vaginal pessaries represents an efficient method with few side-effects for the induction of labor in the third trimester, provided patients are chosen carefully and monitored closely.