COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ORAL AND VAGINAL MISOPROSTOL TABLETS FOR INDUCTION OF LABOUR IN TERM PREGNANCIES

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the efcacy of oral Vs vaginal misoprostol tablets for the induction of labor in term pregnancies. In the present study a total of 201 women at term pregnancy with indicationMethods: for induction of labour, admitted in AN- Ward and ELR in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital over a period of one year were included in the study. The mean age for both the groups 23±3Results: years. Mean gestational age was 39weeks 4days for oral group and 39weeks 3days for the vaginal group. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (35.82%) constituted the largest group of indication for induction of labour followed by postdatism (26.37%). There was signicant difference in the 2 groups when indication for which induction was given was considered.. 84% of women in oral group and 66.34% of women in vaginal group delivered vaginally. The mean induction to delivery time in oral group was 14±6 hours and in the vaginal group was 17±6hours with a p value of 0.013 which was statistically signicant. The mean number of doses in both groups was similar (3 with a SD of 1) with a p value of 0.467. There was signicant difference in the incidence of caesarean sections between the two groups (4% in oral and 21.78% in vaginal group). The incidence of failed induction was 4% in oral and 21.78% in vaginal group which was statistically signicant. Failed induction (54.54%) constituted the most common indication for LSCS (16.67% in oral and 62.9% in vaginal group) followed by foetal distress (32.12%) (83.33%in oral and 32.32% in vaginal group). It was concluded that oral route of administration of misoprostol wasConclusion: equally as efcacious as vaginal route.