Comparison Between Use of Oral Misoprostol Versus Vaginal Misoprostol for Induction of Labour at Term

In modern obstetrics, around 30% of cases require induction of labour for various reasons. Misoprostol is gaining popularity as pharmacological inducing agent, though the route and dosage of administration are not standardised. The objective of the study is to compare the safety and efficacy of the two routes of misoprostol administration—oral (100 μg 4th hourly) and vaginal (25 μg 4th hourly), for induction of labour at term.

In this randomised trial, 104 women having crossed the expected date of delivery without going into spontaneous labour and cases which had premature rupture of membranes <12 h were considered for labour induction and were divided into two equal groups. Group A received 100 μg misoprostol orally 4th hourly, and group B received 25 μg misoprostol vaginally 4th hourly. Labour characteristics and maternal and foetal outcome were compared.

In terms of maternal outcome, mean number of doses for oral group is 2.73 and vaginal group is 3.04. In oral group, mean induction to vaginal delivery interval was 13 h 43 min and in vaginal group interval is 13 h 26 min which was statistically not significant. The need for oxytocin augmentation was also statistically not significant. Both groups had equal number of failed inductions. Emergency LSCS done for foetal distress was more in vaginal group 2.9% compared to oral group which is 1%, but difference was not statistically significant (p value −0.55). Number of thick MSL in oral group was 3.2% as compared to vaginal group which is 10.7% which was statistically significant (p value −0.04). APGAR score at 5 min 7/10 was seen in 7.7% in vaginal group as compared to 0% in oral group which was also statistically significant (0.004). Number of NICU admissions was also more in vaginal group compared to oral group.

Misoprostol in either oral or vaginal route has proven to be equally effective for inducing labour in women at term pregnancy. However, occurrence of lesser incidence of meconium-stained liquor and NICU admissions and fewer caesareans with better neonatal outcome in women induced with oral misoprostol outweighs its advantages over the vaginal misoprostol.