Mifepristone combined with ethacridine lactate for third-trimester stillbirth induction: a 5-year experience from Shanghai

OBJECTIVE: To review and analyze the efficacy and safety of mifepristone combined with ethacridine lactate for induction of stillbirth in the third trimester. METHODS: All patients with stillbirth in late pregnancy (≥ 28 weeks) in a university-affiliated maternity center from October 2016 to September 2021 were included in this study. After exclusion, patients were divided into ethacridine lactate and non-ethacridine lactate groups according to induction methods. Logistic regression was conducted to identify the risks of complications. RESULTS: We identified 122 patients that experienced stillbirth (5’ Apgar score = 0) in third-trimester from the 5-year total deliveries in the hospital, among whom 39 stillbirths that resulted from termination of pregnancy for severe fetal anomalies and 1 stillbirth that was in twin pregnancy were excluded. Thus, 82 cases with stillbirths (dead before induction) were included in the analyses. In the 82 cases, 49 (59.76%) accepted intra-amniotic ethacridine lactate induction with 47 (95.92%, 47/49) successfully induced. No statistical difference was observed in induction failure rate between ethacridine dosage groups of < 75mg and ≥ 75mg (0/25, vs. 2/24, respectively; P > 0.05). The ethacridine lactate induction group showed no increased risks in complications (6.12%, 3/49), compared with non-ethacridine lactate group (12.12%, 4/33) (P = 0.35, OR, 0.47, 95%CI, 0.10 to 2.27). CONCLUSION: Mifepristone combined with ethacridine lactate is a safe and low-risk induction method for patients with stillbirth in the third trimester.