Efficacy and safety of oral misoprostol vs transvaginal balloon catheter for labor induction : An observational study within the SWEdish Postterm Induction Study (SWEPIS)

• INTRODUCTION: Induction of labor is increasing in the world. A common indication for Induction of labor is late term and postterm pregnancy at 41 gestational week and thereafter. We aimed to evaluate if there are any differences regarding efficacy, safety, and women's childbirth experience between oral misoprostol and transvaginal balloon catheter for cervical ripening in women with a low-risk singleton pregnancy and induction of labor at 41+0 to 42+0-1 gestational weeks.MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this observational study, based on data from Swedish Postterm Induction Study (SWEPIS), a multicenter randomized controlled trial, a total of 1 213 women with a low-risk singleton pregnancy at 41 to 42 gestational weeks were induced with oral misoprostol (n=744) or transvaginal balloon catheter (n=469) at 15 Swedish delivery hospitals. The primary efficacy outcome was vaginal delivery within 24 hours and primary safety outcomes were neonatal and maternal composite adverse outcomes. Secondary outcomes included time-to-vaginal delivery and mode of delivery. Women's childbirth experience was assessed with the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ 2.0) and visual analogue scale. We present crude and adjusted mean differences and relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Adjustment was performed for a propensity score based on delivery hospital and baseline characteristics including Bishop score.RESULTS: Vaginal delivery within 24 hours was significantly lower in the misoprostol compared with the balloon catheter group (46.5% [346/744] vs 62.7% [294/469]; adjusted RR 0.76 [95% CI 0.64; 0.89]). Primary neonatal and maternal safety outcomes did not differ between groups (neonatal composite 3.5% [36/744] vs 3.2% [15/469]; adjusted RR 0.77 [95% CI 0.31; 1.89]; maternal composite (2.3% [17/744] vs 1.9% [9/469]; adjusted RR 1.70 [95% CI 0.58; 4.97]). Adjusted mean time-to-vaginal delivery was increased by 3.8 hours (95% CI 1.3; 6.2) in the misoprostol group. Non-operative vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery rates did not differ. Women's childbirth experience was positive overall and similar in both groups.CONCLUSION: Induction of labor with oral misoprostol compared with a transvaginal balloon catheter was associated with a lower probability of vaginal delivery within 24 hours and a longer time-to-vaginal delivery. However, primary safety outcomes, non-operative vaginal delivery and women's childbirth experience were similar in both groups. Therefore, both methods can be recommended in women with low-risk postdate pregnancies.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Labor induced

humans

misoprostol

mothers/psychology

pregnancy outcome

pregnancy prolonged

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)