A comparison of intravaginal misoprostol with intravenous oxytocin for labor induction at term

Han, Hyo Sang; Lee, Jeong Jae; Mo, Ahn Joon; Chung, Jib Kwang; Lee, Im Soon; Lee, Kwon Hae

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To compare the safety and efficacy of intravaginally administered misoprostol (PGE1 analogue) versus intravenously administered oxytocin for labor induction at term.
METHODS
Among 63 patients over 37 weeks, randomly selected 42 patients were vaginally administered 25 micro gram of misoprostol every 3 hours and the other 21 patients were intravenously administered every minute from 1 mIU/min to 10 mIU/min increasingly. RESULT: The average interval from initiation of induction to labor was notably shorter in oxytocin group than in misoprostol group (204.5+/-332.6 min versus 528.1+/-591.8 min, p<0.02). The average interval from initiation of induction to vaginal delivery was shorter in oxytocin group than in misoprostol group (414.4+/-309.4 min versus 528.1+/-519.8 min, P<0.01) and the difference has statistical meaning. Procedure of labor were divided by 3 stages. We checked the duration of each stage between the two comparative groups. 1st stage (242.7+/-150.14 min versus 605.5+/-805.8 min, P<0.05) 2nd stage (12.6+/-11.9 min versus 19.5+/-11.2 min, P<0.05) The stage duration of oxytocin group was shortened. There was no difference between two groups at the third stage. The incidence of tachysystole, hypertonics, hyperstimulation, meconium passage, abnormal fetal heart rate, fetal weight, apgar score, neonatal morbidity were not different between two group.
CONCLUSION
Intravenously administered oxytocin was more effective in shortening labor time than intravaginally administered misoprostol in overall induction labor, but there was no notable difference in the effects on mothers and babies. Considering various situational factors, careful selection should be administered.