Comparison of induction of labor with vaginal misoprostol plus oxytocin versus oxytocin alone in term primigravidae.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and complications of intravaginal misoprostol application before starting oxytocin infusion with oxytocin infusion alone for labor induction in term primigravidae pregnancies with low-Bishop score.

METHODS: This randomized study included 101 primigravidae women with singleton pregnancies >38 weeks and a Bishop score of <6. Group 1 (50 patients) received a 50-μg dose of intravaginal misoprostol, with an oxytocin infusion started 3 h later. Group 2 (51 patients) received only an oxytocin infusion for labor induction. The time from induction to delivery, the route of delivery and complications were analyzed.

RESULTS: The mean time from induction to delivery was 10.4 ± 2.1 h in Group 1 and 13.7 ± 3.4 in Group 2 (p < 0.001). The rates of vaginal delivery, Apgar scores at 1st and 5th min, placental abruption, and postpartum hemorrhage were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSION: Intravaginal application of 50-μg misoprostol before starting oxytocin infusion is a more effective method of labor induction than oxytocin infusion alone in term primigravidae pregnant women with low-Bishop scores.