Open AccessRIPENING OF THE CERVIX AND INDUCTION OF LABOR IN PATIENTS AT TERM BY SINGLE INTRACERVICAL APPLICATION OF PROSTAGLANDIN E 2 IN VISCOUS GEL
Author(s) -
Wingerup Lars,
Andersson KarlErik,
Ulmsten Ulf
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016347909156815
Subject(s) - medicine , labor induction , induction of labor , cervix , ripening , term (time) , prostaglandin , prostaglandin e2 , uterine cervix , bishop score , obstetrics , oxytocin , gynecology , pregnancy , food science , cancer , carcinoma , chemistry , biology , genetics , physics , quantum mechanics
. Prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) suspended in a viscous gel was deposited intracervically to 115 patients at term with an unripe cervix. 45 of these patients were given a single dose of 1.0 mg PGE 2 , whereas the remaining 70 received only half that dose, i.e. 0.5 mg. Irrespective of dose <60 per cent of the patients were induced into labor and delivered without further stimulation within less than 24 hours. The mean induction delivery time was 10 hours. In the remaining patients a considerable ripening of the cervix was registered. Hypercontractility did occur in one patient given 1.0 mg PGE 2 , otherwise no maternal side effects were observed. There were no adverse effects on the fetuses. The number of instrumental deliveries was 19 per cent including 9 per cent cesarean sections. It is concluded that locally applied PGE 2 ‐gel can be used to produce ripening of the cervix and/or induce labor in patients at term with an unripe cervix. Since there was practically no difference in efficiency between the two doses but one case of hyperstimulation in patients given 1.0 mg PGE 2 , the smaller dose, i.e. 0.5 mg is recommended.