Stimulation of labor in cases of premature rupture of the membranes at or near term. A consecutive randomized study of prostaglandin E2-tablets and intravenous oxytocin.

: Prostaglandin E2-tablets were compared to intravenous oxytocin for the stimulation of labor in 201 patients at or near term, with premature spontaneous rupture of the membranes without labor activity for 6 hours after the escape of fluid. The patients were randomly allocated; 99 were treated with PGE2-tablets (0.5-1.5 mg/hr) and 102 with intravenous oxytocin (7.5-45 mIU/min). The treatment was ineffective in the PGE2 group in 3 cases; these were treated successfully with intravenous oxytocin. In the oxytocin group, 3 patients were delivered by cesarean section for reasons not associated with the drug. A significant difference was found in the stimulation-delivery time, in favor of intravenous oxytocin. Although PGE2 tablets are a safe and convenient alternative to intravenous oxytocin, the investigation showed that intravenous oxytocin is preferable in cases of premature rupture of the membranes with more than 6 hours without labor activity.