title: A randomized trial of misoprostol versus extra-amniotic sodium chloride infusion with oxytocin for induction of labor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to compare the efficacy and safety of misoprostol and extra-amniotic sodium chloride infusion with oxytocin for induction of labor.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized trial compared two methods of labor induction in women requiring cervical ripening. One hundred twenty-three women undergoing labor induction with a Bishop score < or =5 were randomly selected to receive either misoprostol, 50 microg intravaginally every 4 hours, or extra-amniotic sodium chloride infusion. The primary outcome variable was the time interval from induction to vaginal delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-one women received extra-amniotic sodium chloride infusion and 62 women received misoprostol. The mean time interval from the start of induction to vaginal delivery was 15.0 +/- 5.0 hours and 16.5 +/- 7.2 hours for the extra-amniotic infusion and misoprostol groups, respectively (P, not significant). The cesarean delivery rate was not significantly different between the 2 groups (32.8% for the extra-amniotic infusion group; 19.4% for the misoprostol group). Maternal and neonatal outcomes were similar between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both methods of induction are equally efficacious and result in similar maternal and neonatal outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Buccellato
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Stika
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Frederiksen
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010120:Oxytocics; D016595:Misoprostol; D012965:Sodium Chloride