Objective: To verify the indications of second and third trimester termination of pregnancy in a fetal medicine department.
Methods: The medical files of 125 patients who underwent medically-induced abortion between 12 to 39 weeks over a four years period (1992-1995) in the French university hospital of Tours, were studied. The medical termination of pregnancy indications inventory allowed us to compare our study to those from the French literature.
Results: Sonographic diagnosis was the main departure point for late abortion indications (70%). Fetal indications were predominant (43%), followed by chromosomal anomalies (30%). If obstetrical indications still existed, maternal indications were exceptional (3%). The reasons for termination were severe structural abnormalities which, in most cases, were not compatible with survival. All the decisions were taken by the physicians from the different specialties concerned by the pathology with respect of the parents opinion.
Conclusion: With generalization of fetal medicine departments with consulting committees for prenatal diagnosis, misguided abortions can be avoided; but an accurate law, standardized in all European countries, would be necessary.