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Labour Induction with Low Dose PGE2 Vaginal Gel: Result of an Australian Multicentre Randomized Trial*
Author(s) -
MacLennan Alastair,
Fraser Ian,
Jakubowicz Diana,
MurrayArthur Frederick,
Quinn Michael,
Trudinger Brian
Publication year - 1989
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.1989.tb01700.x
Subject(s) - oxytocin , medicine , adverse effect , randomized controlled trial , bishop score , anesthesia , vaginal delivery , confidence interval , labor induction , pregnancy , surgery , cervix , cancer , biology , genetics
Summary: An open‐label, parallel, randomized study was conducted in 6 Australian hospitals involving 320 women near term who required induction of labour. Labour induction with 1 or 2mg of PGE2 in a vaginal triacetin gel repeated if necessary at 6 hours was compared to induction by amniotomy and intravenous oxytocin. Analysis of the 2 groups confirmed matching with regards demographic and clinical data. A significantly longer and more variable mean induction to onset of established labour interval was recorded in the PGE2 group (6.7 ±4.8 versus 2.0± 1.1 hours. (p<0.001). The mean period of established labour was also longer (8.1 versus 6.0 hours, p<0.001) in the PGE2 group. However, 48% of PGE2 treated patients versus 29% oxytocin treated patients (p<0.01) were recorded as not experiencing strong contractions. Twelve hours after induction 65% of the PGE2 group and 93% of the oxytocin group were in established labour; 24% of the PGE2 treated group required subsequent augmentation with oxytocin. Spontaneous delivery occurred in 69% of PGE 2 treated women and 62% of those treated with oxytocin (N.S.). Analgesic requirements were not statistically different between the groups. Fewer fetal heart rate abnormalities were recorded in the PGE, treated group (p<0.02). No serious and only minimal adverse events were recorded in either treatment group.