A randomised controlled trial comparing vaginally administered misoprostol to vaginal dinoprostone gel in labour induction

Summary

Prostaglandins are the most efficient cervical ripening and labour inducing agents in the presence of an unfavourable cervix. Unfortunately commercially manufactured prostaglandins registered for cervical ripening and labour induction are expensive and require continuous refrigeration, rendering them inappropriate for the developing world. Misoprostol has been found to be superior to placebo. while as effective as dinoprostone tablets and intracervical gel in cervical ripening and labour induction. This is the first study that compares misoprostol with dinoprostone vaginal gel. In our study there was a significantly shorter induction delivery time and lower caesarean section rate in the misoprostol group. While the study shows misoprostol to be an efficient induction agent, we remain concerned about the safety of misoprostol as a labour induction agent.