CERVICAL RIPENING WITH PROSTAGLANDIN-E2 VAGINAL SUPPOSITORIES

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 63  (5) , 659-663
Abstract
A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was undertaken to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a 3-mg prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) vaginal suppository for the initiation of cervical ripening before the induction of labor. All patients were required to have an initial Bishop score of .ltoreq. 4. The 3-mg PGE2 vaginal suppository was an effective method of both cervical ripening and labor induction. Its use resulted in a highly significant improvement in the mean Bishop score compared with the placebo group (2.67 vs. 0.55 points, P < 0.00005). Its use also resulted in a significant reduction in the number of failed inductions (5 vs. 23%, P < 0.0005). Moreover, 68% of the patients treated with PGE2 labored after initial suppository placement and 42% of these patients never required oxytocin augmentation of labor. There were 3 instances of uterine hyperstimulation/hypertonus following placement of the 3-mg PGE2 suppository, suggesting that perhaps a lower dose of PGE2 would improve its safety as a ripening agent without affecting its efficacy.