Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2010;32(7):346-351
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032010000700007
PURPOSE: to compare the effectiveness of the Foley balloon with vaginal misoprostol for cervical ripening and labor induction. METHODS: randomized clinical trial, not blind, conducted from January 2006 to January 2008. A total of 160 pregnant women with indication for induction of labor were included and divided into two groups, 80 for Foley and 80 for vaginal misoprostol. Inclusion criteria were: gestational age of 37 weeks or more, a live single fetus with cephalic presentation and a Bishop score of four or less. We excluded patients with a uterine scar, ruptured membranes, estimated fetal weight greater than 4000 g, placenta previa, chorioamnionitis and conditions that imposed the immediate termination of pregnancy. Statistical tests employed were Mann-Whitney, χ2 test or Fisher's exact test, and p value was significant if less than 0.005. RESULTS: misoprostol triggered more frequently spontaneous delivery (50.0 versus 15.0% for Foley, p<0.001) and required less use of oxytocin (41.2 versus 76.2%), and this group presented more tachysystole (21.2 versus 5.0%). The Foley catheter caused more discomfort to the patient (28.7 versus 1.2%). There were no differences in the time required for development of the Bishop score (20.69 versus 21.36 hours), for triggering delivery (36.42 versus 29.57 hours) or in rates of cesarean delivery (51.2 versus 42.5%). There were no significant differences in perinatal performance, with similar rates of abnormal cardiotocography (20.0 versus 21.2%), presence of meconium (13.7 versus 17.5%) and need for neonatal intensive care unit (3.7 versus 6.2%). CONCLUSIONS: the use of the Foley catheter was as effective as misoprostol for cervical ripening, but less effective in triggering spontaneous labor. Our results support the recommendation of its use for cervical ripening, especially in patients with cesarean scar.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2008;30(7):328-334
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032008000700002
PURPOSE: to study the histochemical changes related to the uterine cervix glycosaminoglycan of the albino female rat, after local ministration of hyaluronidases at the end of pregnancy. METHODS: ten female rats with positive pregnancy tests were randomly distributed in two numerically equal groups. The control group (Cg) was built up with rats that received a single dose of 1 mL of distilled water in the uterine cervix, under anesthesia, at the 18th pregnancy day. In the experimental group (Exg), the rats received 0.02 mL of hyaluronidase, diluted in 0.98 mL of distilled water (1 mL as a total), under the same conditions as the Cg. At the 20th pregnancy day, the rats were anesthetized once again and submitted to dissection, and the cervix prepared for histochemical study with alcian blue dye and its blockades (pH=0.5, pH=2.5, methylation and saponification). RESULTS: strongly positive reaction in the lamina propria (+3) has been seen in the Cg, and negative reaction in the Exg, with pH=0.5 alcian blue staining. With pH=2.5, staining has also been strongly positive (+4) in the Cg, and weakly positive (+1) in the Exg slide. After methylation, both groups have shown negative reaction, with pH=2.5 alcian blue staining. The lamina propria staining became negative after methylation in both groups, followed by saponification and enzymatic digestion on slide. CONCLUSIONS: there is clear predominance of sulphated glycosaminoglycans in the Cg as compared to the Exg and a small amount of identified carboxylated glycosaminoglycans in the Exg. The changes evidenced in the extracellular matrix have suggested that the hyaluronidase injected in the uterine cervix has promoted biochemical changes compatible with cervix maturation.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(8):457-462
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000800005
Objective: to determine the efficacy and safety of misoprostol for cervical ripening and induction of labor in pregnant women at term when compared with placebo. Patients and Methods: fifty-one high-risk pregnant women at term, with unripe cervix, were allocated in a double-blind trial for treatment with intravaginal misoprostol (40 mg, 4/4 h) or intravaginal placebo. Results: thirty-two patients received misoprostol and 19 received placebo. The groups were homogeneous concerning maternal age, gestacional age, parity, and indication for induction (p > 0.05). In the misoprostol group the efficacy was 87.5% and in the placebo group 21.1% (p = 0.0000087). Regarding delivery, in the misoprostol group 75% had vaginal delivery and 25% abdominal delivery, and in the placebo group only 32% had vaginal delivery and 68% abdominal delivery (p = 0.0059).The Apgar score was similar. Conclusion: in this study misoprostol was effective and safe for cervical ripening and induction of labor.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2003;25(4):249-254
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000400005
PURPOSE: to assess the morphological and morphometric alterations in the uterine cervix of pregnant albino rats determined by local hyaluronidase administration. METHODS: ten rats with a positive pregnancy test were randomly distributed into two equal groups. The control group consisted of rats that received a single dose of 1 mL distilled water in the uterine cervix, on gestational day 18, under anesthesia. The experimental group consisted of rats that received 0.02 mL hyaluronidase, diluted in 0.98 ml distilled water (total = 1 mL), in the same conditions as those of the control group. On day 20, the rats were anesthetized and submitted to dissection. The uterine cervix was prepared for morphological and morphometric study at light microscopy (hematoxylin and eosin, and Masson trichrome). RESULTS: in the experimental group, greater thinning of the superficial mucified epithelium was observed, with lamina propria rich in blood vessels and eosinophils. Diversely, the control group showed a large concentration of collagen fibers. The histometric analysis in the experimental group was characterized by a smaller number of collagen fibers (mean = 248 versus 552 of control; SD = 49.7 versus 31.1 of control). The parametric method (Student's t test) showed a significant difference between groups (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: the local use of hyaluronidase in the cervix of pregnant rats determined predominance of loose connective tissue and a smaller concentration of collagen fibers.