Low-Dose Misoprostol versus Vaginal-Insert Dinoprostone for At-Term Labor Induction: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Introduction: Given the pharmacological change taking place in Spanish delivery rooms, we designed this study to compare the effectiveness and safety of misoprostol (25 mcg/4h) to 10 mg dinoprostone in its slow-releasing vaginalinsert form to induce at-term labor. Methods: In a prospective cohort study (2013)(2014)(2015), 401 at-term pregnant women referred for induction (Bishop score ≤ 6), who gave birth at the Rey Juan Carlos Hospital in Móstoles (Madrid, Spain), of whom 241 participants were induced with misoprostol and 160 with dinoprostone. Patients were recruited by non-probabilistic sampling of consecutive cases as the inductions in the Obstetrics Block during the study period were indicated. Results: The cesarean section rate was 14% for the mi- Conclusion: Inducing delivery by low-dose misoprostol offers similar effectiveness and safety to induction by dinoprostone in its slow-releasing vaginal-insert form. However, our sample is limited, and few studies are available on the subject. Further analyses to draw solid conclusions are required.