Induction of labor with vaginal misoprostol plus oxytocin versus oxytocin alone.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effect of an oxytocin infusion alone or preceded by an intravaginal application of misoprostol for labor induction in women with term pregnancies and a low Bishop score.

METHODS

This study randomized 100 multiparous women with singleton pregnancies over 38 weeks and a Bishop score less than 6 to receive either a single 50-microg dose of misoprostol intravaginally 3 hours before initiation of the oxytocin infusion or only an oxytocin infusion. The time from induction to delivery, the route of delivery, and maternal and fetal outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

The mean time from induction to delivery was 9.36+/-1.97 hours in the misoprostol plus oxytocin group and 11.08+/-3.23 in the oxytocin alone group (P=0.002). The rates of vaginal delivery, 1- and 5-minute Agpar scores, placental abruption, and postpartum hemorrhage were similar between the 2 groups, as were the rates of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. There were no cases of perinatal asphyxia.

CONCLUSION

A 50-microg intravaginal application of misoprostol before starting the oxytocin infusion is a more effective method of labor induction than an oxytocin infusion alone for our study population.