Is misoprostol safe for labor induction in twin gestations?
OBJECTIVE
To compare the safety and efficacy of intravaginal misoprostol to oxytocin for the induction of labor in twin gestations.


METHODS
All twin gestations that underwent induction of labor with misoprostol or oxytocin during a 4-year period were identified from the Mount Sinai obstetrical database. Only twins > or = 34 weeks with a vertex presenting twin A were included. Labor and delivery characteristics, maternal complications and neonatal outcomes were compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
Of 134 patients with twins, 57 initially received misoprostol and 77 received oxytocin. These groups had similar demographics, but women who received misoprostol had less cervical dilation (0.8 vs. 2.2 cm, p < 0.0001) and were less likely to be multiparous (19% vs. 44%, p = 0.003). There was a shorter length of induction to delivery (7.8 hours vs. 15.1 hours, p = 0.001) and a trend toward a lower cesarean section rate (16.9% vs. 31.6%, p = 0.06) in the oxytocin-only group. There were no cases of uterine rupture or maternal mortality in this series. There were no significant differences in neonatal outcomes between the two groups, but the sample size was underpowered to detect significant differences between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Misoprostol and oxytocin both appear to be safe and efficacious for use in inductions of labor in twins in this limited retrospective investigation. The safety of these agents with regard to neonatal outcomes should be confirmed by larger studies.
Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, Laguna Hills, CA, 92653, USA. melissacbush@hotmail.com
Melissa C
MC
Bush
Akos
A
Csaba
Keith A
KA
Eddleman
Carl J
CJ
Saphier
D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019992:Databases as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007747:Labor Stage, First / Q000187:drug effects; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014427:Twins
D010120:Oxytocics; D016595:Misoprostol; D010121:Oxytocin