Early induction of labor in intrauterine death.

Abstract

IN earlier years the accepted management of the dead fetus in utero was one of watchful expectancy. The physician awaited the spontaneous onset of labor, which, fortunately, in most such cases occurred within two or three weeks. This complacent attitude negating physician intervention was altered when it was realized that in a number of patients bearing a dead fetus for over a period of four or five weeks, a disturbance in the coagulation mechanism could develop, resulting in vaginal bleeding that was sometimes of serious proportions. Among other laboratory findings in these cases was a depressed plasma fibrinogen level. Incidence . . .