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The Effect of Intravaginal Prostaglandin F 2α on Labour after Spontaneous and Artificial Rupture of the Membranes
Author(s) -
MacLennan Alastair H.,
Green Roslyn C.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1980.tb00100.x
Subject(s) - oxytocin , medicine , regimen , prostaglandin , anesthesia , randomized controlled trial , clinical trial , surgery
Summary: The effect on labour of 50 mg intravaginal PG F 2α or a standard intravenous oxytocin regimen was compared in 2 randomised trials involving a total of 83 patients, 23 of whom had experienced spontaneous rupture of the membranes (S.R.O.M.) and 60 of whom had artificial rupture of the membranes (A.R.M.) to induce labour. In each trial, labour had not been initiated by membrane rupture alone. In both trials only 20% of the patients receiving PG F 2α required further augmentation of labour with intravenous oxytocin. The mean length of labour in patients receiving PG F 2α was 2.5 hours shorter in the A.R.M. trial and 3.0 hours shorter in the S.R.O.M. trial than the mean length of labour in patients receiving intravenous oxytocin (P < 0.01). In the A.R.M. trial, the PG F 2α ‐treated group had significantly less analgesic requirements (P < 0.001). Although more normal deliveries occurred in the patients treated with PG F 2α than oxytocin in both trials, die numbers did not reach statistical significance. No side effects occurred in the PG F 2α ‐treated patients or their babies and this method was much preferred by patients and nursing staff alike.