Rates of complication for dilation and evacuation versus induction of labor in treatment of second trimester intrauterine fetal demise.

Objective: To evaluate clinical differences in the safety of dilation and evacuation (D&E) and induction of labor (IOL) for the treatment of intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) between 14 and 24 weeks gestation.

Study Designs: A retrospective chart review was conducted at a single institution comparing rates of major and minor complications between patients who undergo D&E and those that undergo IOL in the treatment of IUFD between 14 and 24 weeks gestation. Demographic and medical variables were stratified by management method and analyzed using chi-squared and t-tests where appropriate.