A comparison of vaginal misoprostol with intravenous oxytocin for cervical ripening and labor induction

Abstract EN

Objective: This clinical trial was performed to comate the effectiveness of oxytocin with misoprostol for induction of labor in Bahonar Hospital, Kerman-Iran.

Methods: Sixty pregnant women with indication for labor induction were randomly assigned to receive either misoprostol or oxytocin.

Misoprostol tabet, 25?g was inserted in the posterior fornix and was repeated every four hours in the first group (to a maximum dose of 100mg).

The second group received intravenous oxytocin (2mu/min). Results: The results showed that 83.3% of women in the misoprostol group were delivered vaginally within 3.5 to 21 hours of the initiation of induction it was 76.7% within 4.5-17.5 hours in oxytocin group and there was no significant difference between them.

The total cesarean section rate was approximately similar in both groups.

Women receiving oxytocin had higher rate of cesarean section for dystocia (5 versus I).

The mean and median interval from induction to delivery was not significantly different between the two group, (685±223 and 710 minutes in the first group compared with 685±198 and 690 minutes in the second group).

There was no significant difference in Apgar score and meconium staining between two groups.

Hyperstimulation was seen in one patient in the first group with neither low Apgar score nor adverse neonatal outcome. Conclusion: This study showed that the outcome of induction was not significantly different in the two groups.

Therefore considering the advantages of misoprostol, it is recommended as an alternative to oxytocin.