Low-dose sulprostone for pregnancy termination in cases of fetal abnormality

Thirty-two pregnancies (11 primi- and 21 multi-gravid) with an abnormal fetus were terminated between 16 and 35 weeks (mean 22 weeks; median 20 weeks) and a continuous intravenous infusion of 1 microgram of the prostaglandin analogue sulprostone. All pregnancies were terminated vaginally, 31 of them with this regimen in a median induction-expulsion interval of 23 h (range 8-52 h). Complete expulsion of the placenta occurred in 72 per cent of cases. Median blood loss was 100 ml (range 20-2000 ml). There were only a few side-effects. We conclude that this induction regimen is both appropriate and safe for pregnancy termination in cases of fetal anomaly.