Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2003;25(7):491-499
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000700005
PURPOSE: to investigate whether rectally administered misoprostol is an effective method for induction of labor in patients with premature ruptured membranes at term. METHODS: a pilot trial was conducted, enrolling 32 women with alive, singleton, cephalic fetus and ruptured membranes between 36 and 41 weeks of pregnancy, with Bishop score <6 and without evidence of labor. They received rectal misoprostol (tablets of 50 mg) every 4 h until active labor was diagnosed. Patients with ruptured membranes for >18 h received antibiotics (crystalline penicillin) for prophylaxis of streptococcal infeccion. Outcomes included time from induction to labor and induction to delivery, incidence of tachysystole, mode of delivery, incidence of chorioamnionitis and neonatal outcome. Statistical analysis was performed using the public domain software Epi-Info 2002. Means and standard deviations were calculated, as well as frequency distributions. Survival analysis was performed to determine percent of deliveries according to time (hours) since the administration of the first tablet. RESULTS: the mean (±SD) induction-to-labor and induction-to-delivery intervals were 299.8±199.9 and 681±340.5 min, respectively. The frequency of tachysystole was 9.4%. About 72% of patients achieved vaginal delivery. Chorioamnionitis was diagnosed in 12.5% of the patients. Median Apgar scores at 1st and 5th min were 8 and 9, respectively. There was no case of Apgar <7 at the 5th min. Neonatal sepsis occurred in 12.5% of the neonates. CONCLUSION: induction of labor with rectal misoprostol in the setting of premature rupture of membranes was effective, with 72% of vaginal deliveries and a low rate of chorioamnionitis. These findings must be confirmed by large randomized controlled trials.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(10):641-646
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002001000002
PURPOSE: to compare the effectiveness and safety of two different doses of misoprostol (12.5 mug and 25 mug) administered vaginally for cervical ripening and labor induction in term pregnancies with an indication for interruption. METHODS: this was a pilot randomized controlled single blinded trial, including 40 pregnant women treated with one of the two different doses of misoprostol. The independent variable was the dose of misoprostol and the main dependent variables were the mode of delivery, time between induction and delivery, perinatal complications and maternal side effects. The main control variables were maternal age, gestational age, literacy, parity, skin color and conditions of the cervix at the beginning of induction. For data analysis Student's t test, chi2, exact Fisher, Wilcoxon and Kolmogorov-Smirnof tests were used, besides survival analysis. RESULTS: the groups using 12.5 and 25 mug were similar and did not present any significant difference regarding time for onset of uterine contractions (20.9±20.4 and 16.6±9.8 h, respectively), time between onset of uterine contractions and delivery (7.8±3.4 and 6.9±5.0 h), vaginal delivery (65 and 80%) and maternal and perinatal side effects (similar Apgar scores and hyperstimulation syndrome in both groups). CONCLUSION: the higher percentage of vaginal births and the shorter time for delivery using 25 mug, although not significant, does not allow to recommend the dose of 12.5 mug as more advantageous for cervical ripening and labor induction in term pregnancies.