Oral prostaglandin E2 for induction of labor
Corson, S.L.; Bolognese, R.J.
Journal of Reproductive Medicine 12(4): 167-168
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0024-7758 PMID: 4822894 Document Number: 77876
PGE2 (prostaglandin E2) had been successfully used in initiating labor in term pregnancies (Karim and Sharma, 1971). This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of prostaglandin for induction of labor in 23 patients (gestational length, 38-41 weeks; mean age, 27; age range, 17 to 40; parity 0 to 6). 20 received an oral PGE2 0.5 mg tablet hourly while 3 received an initial dose of 0.5 mg with 0.5 mg incremental increase hourly. 20 patients delivered vaginally liveborn infants without neonatal depression according to Apgar score and subsequent behavior in the nursery. 2 patients delivered by C-section and 1 was excluded from the study because of inadequate duration of treatment. Mean time to delivery was 5 hours, 47 minutes; mean drug dose, 2.53 mg. Mild transient emesis and diarrhea occurred in 2 patients, and emesis only in 1. Bishop induction score did not correlate with total dose of PGE2 used. Parity correlated negatively with dose necessary to achieve delivery (p0.05). The findings confirm the efficacy and safety of oral PGE, which provides an alternate drug and route for induction of labor. Oxytocin induction is briefly compared with prostaglandin induction.