[Ripening of the cervix uteri at term by a single intracervical application of prostaglandin E2 gel].

The efficacy and the side effects of an intracervical PGE2 gel application, as compared to placebo, for priming of the cervix have been studied in 208 patients at term (104 PGE2 and 104 placebo) with an unripe cervix (Bishop score less than 5) and with a medical indication for induction of labour. The cervical ripening success rate (as defined in methodology) is significantly higher in the treated group (58.6%) than in the control group (27.8%; p = 0.0001): 38.5% out of the PGE2 treated patients delivered within 12 hours after the gel application; 12 hours after PGE2 or placebo gel application labour was induced in the remaining patients with intravenous oxytocin infusion. Under these conditions there were 13.5% failures in the PGE2 treated group and 16.3% in the placebo group. We observed a statistically significant decrease in the length of labour of the PGE2 treated patients as compared to the control group. Since signs of myometrial hypercontractility were observed in the PGE2 treated group as compared to the control group (p = 0.01), the authors advocate careful cardiotocographic monitoring for at least three hours after the gel application. It is concluded that intracervical application of Prostaglandin E2 followed by intravenous infusion of oxytocin in an effective and safe method for induction of labour with an unfavorable cervix at term.