Cervical ripening with oral prostaglandin E₂ tablets and the effect of the latent period in patients with premature rupture of the membranes at term

Summary

A prospective, random allocation study was performed to assess the effect of the length of the latent period and the efficacy of oral prostaglandin E₂ tablets for induction of labour in women with premature rupture of the membranes at term.

Forty-nine women were allocated to early induction of labour (group 1) and 48 to delayed induction (group 2). The median interval from rupture of the membranes to induction was 3–25 hours in group I and 200 hours in group 2. The median interval from rupture of the membranes to delivery was 13–5 hours in group 1 compared to 22–9 hours in group 2. There was no difference between the two groups with respect to gestational age, birth weight and mode of delivery. Twenty-four hours after admission all of group 1 women were delivered compared to only 58 per cent of group 2 women. There were no statistical differences in the incidences of maternal or neonatal infective morbidity between the two groups.

These observations suggest that there is no advantage to a prolonged latent period and that oral prostaglandin E₂ tablets are effective in the induction of labour in these patients.