title: Elective Delivery at Term after a Previous Unexplained Intra-Uterine Fetal Death: Audit of Delivery Outcome at Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the delivery outcome in a pregnancy with a previous unexplained intra-uterine death by elective induction of labour at term.
  
  
  METHODS
  An audit of the pregnancy outcome of all women within the catchment area with a current singleton pregnancy; and a previous unexplained or unexplored singleton fetal demise ≥24 weeks (or 500 grams birth weight if gestation unknown) after planned routine induction of labour at full term (39-40 weeks).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the audit period, 306 patients with a previous intra-uterine fetal death were referred for further management. Of these, 161 had a clear indication for earlier intervention and were excluded from the protocol. Of the remaining 145 patients, 9 met further exclusion criteria and there were 2 patients who defaulted. Forty-two of the remaining study patients (with no known previous medical problems) developed complications during their antenatal course that necessitated a change in clinical management and earlier (<39 weeks) delivery. Of the remaining 92 patients in the audit, 47 (51%) went into spontaneous labour before their induction date; all 92 women delivered without major complications. There were no intra-uterine deaths prior to induction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Careful follow up at a high risk clinic identifies new or concealed maternal or fetal complications in 29% of patients with a previous intra-uterine death and no obvious maternal or fetal disease in the index pregnancy. When all risks are excluded and the pregnancy allowed to progress to full term (39-40 weeks) before an induction is offered, 50% will go into spontaneous labour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gebhardt
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Leana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oberholzer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D036801:Parturition; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D047929:Term Birth; D055815:Young Adult