A randomized clinical trial comparing vaginal misoprostol versus cervical Foley plus oral misoprostol for cervical ripening and labor induction.
We compared labor induced by vaginal misoprostol versus a supracervical Foley catheter and oral misoprostol. Singleton pregnancies at > or = 24 weeks' gestation were randomized to either an initial 25-microg dose of intravaginal misoprostol, followed by 50-microg intravaginal doses at 3- to 6-hour intervals, or a supracervical Foley balloon and 100 microg of oral misoprostol at 4- to 6-hour intervals. Primary outcome was time from induction to delivery. One hundred twenty-six women were randomized to vaginal misoprostol alone (group I) and 106 women to Foley and oral misoprostol (group II). The groups were similar in age, weight, gestational age, parity, indication for induction of labor, and oxytocin use. Cesarean delivery rates at 37% and cesarean indications were similar ( P = 0.25). The time from induction to delivery in group II (12.9 hours) was significantly shorter than that in group I (17.8 hours, P < 0.001). Uterine tachysystole occurred less often in the vaginal misoprostol group (21% versus 39%, P = 0.015). Compared with vaginal misoprostol, delivery within 24 hours was significantly more likely with a Foley balloon and oral misoprostol. The use of terbutaline and peripartum outcomes were similar in the two groups.
Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia 23708-2197, USA. james.hill4@med.navy.mil
James B
JB
Hill
Brad D
BD
Thigpen
James A
JA
Bofill
Everett
E
Magann
Lisa E
LE
Moore
James N
JN
Martin
D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001835:Body Weight; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D005865:Gestational Age; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013726:Terbutaline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
D010120:Oxytocics; D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D016595:Misoprostol; D013726:Terbutaline