Induction of labor in great grandmultipara with misoprostol.

Abstract Objective To compare the efficacy and complications of intravaginal misoprostol application with oxytocin infusion for induction of labor in great grandmultiparous pregnancies with a Bishop score of Study design Sixty-four great grandmultiparous (delivering the tenth, or greater, infant) pregnant patients with a Bishop score of The time from induction to delivery, the route of delivery, fetal outcome and maternal complications were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed using Mann–Whitney U -test, Chi-Square test and hypothesis test about differences for two proportions ( t -test) to determine differences between the two groups. P  ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Result The mean time from induction to delivery was 9.91 ± 4.30 and 10.88 ± 4.72 h in the misoprostol and oxytocin administered group, respectively, with no significant difference between the groups. The rate of vaginal delivery was 84.4 and 87.5% in the misoprostol and oxytocin administered group, respectively, with no significant difference between the groups ( P  = 0.72). The rates of placental abruption and postpartum hemorrhage were similar in both groups and no case of uterine rupture occurred. The 1 and 5 min mean Apgar scores were 6.91 ± 1.57–8.88 ± 1.39 and 7.22 ± 1.24–9.06 ± 0.84 in the misoprostol and oxytocin administered group with no significant differences between the groups ( P  = 0.38 and 0.51). No case of asphyxia was present. The rate of admission to neonatal intensive care unit was higher in the misoprostol administered group, but the difference was not significant. Conclusion Intravaginal misoprostol is an alternative method to oxytocin in induction of labor in great grandmultiparous pregnant women with low Bishop scores, as it is effective, cheap and easy to use. Safety about rare complications and neonatal morbidity needs clarifications with further studies.