Comparative study of pharmacological and combined pharmaco-mechanical method of induction of labour: a randomised study

Abstract

Background: Comparative study of Pharmacological and Pharmaco- Mechanical method of induction of labour- A Randomised study. The objective of the study was to compare efficacy of pharmacological and combined pharmaco-mechanical method of induction of labour.Methods: A study was conducted in the department of Obstetrics and gynaecology, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre for a period of 18 months. 200 pregnant women requiring induction of labour were included in the study. In group 1 Dinoprostone 0.5 mg gel was inserted into cervical canal. In group 2 Foley’s catheter No 18 F was inserted within the cervix. The balloon of the catheter was filled with 30 ml normal saline and at the same time Dinoprostone 0.5 mg gel was inserted into posterior vaginal fornix. The Excel and SPSS (SPSS Inc, Chicago V 18.5) software packages were used for data entry and analysis. The results were averaged (mean ± Std Deviation) for each parameter for continuous data in tables.Results: Mean induction to active phase interval in group 1 was 8.43±4.11 hrs, in group 26.82±3.01 hrs (p =0.001). The rate of vaginal delivery in group 1 and group 2 was 55% and 66% respectively, difference was statistically significant (p=0.026).Conclusions: Synchronous use of intracervical Foley’s catheter and Dinoprostone 0.5 mg resulted in a shorter time for progress to active phase and also shortened induction to delivery interval as compared to Dinoprostone 0.5 mg alone. Higher risk of caesarean delivery was associated with single method as compared to combined methods.