HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by BUCHANAN, D. Articles by YONEKURA, M. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by BUCHANAN, D. Articles by YONEKURA, M. L.

Cervical Ripening With Prostaglandin E₂ Vaginal Suppositories

From the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, and Women's Hospital, Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

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 4 or less. The 3-mg PGE₂ vaginal suppository was found to be 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 versus 0.55 points, P<.00005). Its use also resulted in a significant reduction in the number of failed inductions (5 versus 23%, P<.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. However, there were three 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.