Induction of labour with oral misoprostol for prelabour rupture of membranes at term.

OBJECTIVE

To study the efficacy, safety and maternal satisfaction of oral misoprostol for induction of labour in patients with prelabour rupture of membrane at term (PROM).

METHODS

Pregnant women with singleton pregnancy at term with cephalic presentation with prelabour rupture of membranes having no other obstetric and maternal contraindications for induction of labour, were included in the study. Patients were given 50ugm of oral misoprostol at six hourly intervals for a total of three doses or until labour was established.

RESULTS

Of the 104 patients included in the study, 28 (26.9%) were primigraivda and 72.1% were multigravida. Induction delivery internal was shorter in multigravida and longer in primigraivda. Patients with Bishop score of less than 5 had a longer induction delivery interval as compared to patients with Bishop score more than 5. Significant side effects included nausea and vomiting in 68 patients (65.3%). Vaginal delivery was achieved in 80.7% with Cesarean section in 19.2% of patients. Neonatal outcome was good with no stillbirths and only two neonatal deaths. A large number, 98 (94.2%) of women were satisfied with induction of labour with oral misoprostol in PROM.

CONCLUSIONS

Active management with oral misoprostol resulted in more women going into labour and delivering within 24 hours of PROM with no significant maternal and neonatal complications.