Induction of labour with sulprostone after foetal death and in hydatidiform mole.

Induction of uterine contractions was carried out with an intravenous infusion of sulprostone, a 16-phenoxy derivate of methylsulphonylamid prostaglandin E2 in 21 patients after intrauterine foetal death and in seven patients having hydatidiform mole. The mean total dose of sulprotone was estimated as 1100-1300 microgram in different groups. The mean induction-delivery time was 7-13 hours. Expellation of the foetus occurred in 20 out of 21 cases during 24 hours after commencement of sulprostone infusion. In all patients having molar pregnancy uterine contractions induced with sulprostone opened the uterine cervix for evacuation. The drug was clinically well tolerated without any serious side-effects.