INDUCTION OF LABOUR USING LOW AND HIGH DOSE REGIMENS OF PROSTAGLANDIN E2 VAGINAL TABLETS

ABSTRACTObjective: To compare the efficacy of low dose prostaglandin E2 vaginal tablets withthat of high dose in induction of labour.Design: A retrospective study.Setting: Abha Maternity Hospital, a teaching hospital in the southern region of SaudiaArabia.Patients: The outcome of induction of labour in 73 women induced with 1.5 mgprostaglandin E2 vaginal tablets was compared with those in 168 women induced with3 mg vaginal tablets.Results: There were no statistical significant differences in the success rate, inductiondeliveryinterval, caesarean section rate and Apgar scores between the two groups. Therewere two incidences of uterine hyperstimulation and two of uterine rupture in the highdose group. These were not statistically significant. Logistic regression analysis showedthat the success rate of induction of labour was dependent only on maternal age(P=0.0025) and Bishop score (P=0.0403) and not on parity, gestational age, birthweightor dose of prostaglandin.Conclusion: The low dose regimen of 1.5 mg is as efficacious as the high dose regimenof 3mg. prostaglandin E2 vaginal tablets in inducing labour. This implies that usingthe low dose regimen reduces the cost of induction of labour effectively. Largerprospective randomized studies are needed to confirm this finding