Misoprostol to induce labour: A review of its use in a NSW hospital

Roberts, LM; Homer, CSE; Davis, GK; Miller, TD

Misoprostol to induce labour: A review of its use in a NSW hospital

Roberts, LM Homer, CSE

Davis, GK Miller, TD

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2007, 47 (4), pp. 291 - 296
Issue Date:: 2007-08-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Roberts, LM	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Homer, CSE https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7454-3011	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Davis, GK	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Miller, TD	en_US
dc.date.issued	2007-08-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2007, 47 (4), pp. 291 - 296	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0004-8666	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/4697
dc.description.abstract	Background: Induction of labour (IOL) is a common procedure in maternity care. Misoprostol is a prostaglandin E 1 analogue that is effective, cheap and easily stored but not licensed for this use in Australia. Despite evidence supporting the use of misoprostol for IOL, few Australian maternity units use it. Aims: To review the outcomes of women who received vaginal misoprostol for IOL. Methods: A retrospective review of all births induced with vaginal misoprostol from July 1998 to October 2005 at one hospital in New South Wales. Women who had an IOL for multiple pregnancy, known fetal death or congenital abnormality were excluded. Results: In total, 1998 women with a normal, viable, single fetus received vaginal misoprostol for IOL. More than half (57%) of women did not require augmentation during labour. More than one third (37%) had epidural analgesia, 25% had an emergency Caesarean section, 7% had a post-partum haemorrhage and 16% of babies were admitted to the special care nursery. Uterine rupture occurred in two women, one of whom had a history of uterine surgery. There were two neonatal deaths, both because of Group B Streptococcus infection. Conclusions: In this cohort of women, misoprostol was an effective and safe agent to induce labour. Recent legal concerns at this hospital make its future use in normal clinical practice unlikely. © 2007 The Authors Journal compilation © 2007 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/j.1479-828X.2007.00740.x	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Uterine Rupture	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Oxytocics	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Misoprostol	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy Outcome	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Labor, Induced	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Retrospective Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Parity	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.title	Misoprostol to induce labour: A review of its use in a NSW hospital	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	4	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	47	en_US
utslib.for	1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - WHO CC
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	4	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	47	en_US

Abstract:

Background: Induction of labour (IOL) is a common procedure in maternity care. Misoprostol is a prostaglandin E 1 analogue that is effective, cheap and easily stored but not licensed for this use in Australia. Despite evidence supporting the use of misoprostol for IOL, few Australian maternity units use it. Aims: To review the outcomes of women who received vaginal misoprostol for IOL. Methods: A retrospective review of all births induced with vaginal misoprostol from July 1998 to October 2005 at one hospital in New South Wales. Women who had an IOL for multiple pregnancy, known fetal death or congenital abnormality were excluded. Results: In total, 1998 women with a normal, viable, single fetus received vaginal misoprostol for IOL. More than half (57%) of women did not require augmentation during labour. More than one third (37%) had epidural analgesia, 25% had an emergency Caesarean section, 7% had a post-partum haemorrhage and 16% of babies were admitted to the special care nursery. Uterine rupture occurred in two women, one of whom had a history of uterine surgery. There were two neonatal deaths, both because of Group B Streptococcus infection. Conclusions: In this cohort of women, misoprostol was an effective and safe agent to induce labour. Recent legal concerns at this hospital make its future use in normal clinical practice unlikely. © 2007 The Authors Journal compilation © 2007 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/4697