A Comparative Study of Labor Outcomes after Induction with Oxytocin and Oral Misoprostol in Pregnant Women with Premature Rupture of Membrane

Introduction:In women having premature rupture of membrane, both oxytocin as well as prostaglandins are effective for inducing labor.The choice to implement a standard procedure remains contentious.The commonly employed method is oxytocin.Nonetheless, it must be administered intravenously while closely monitoring the administered dose and contraction rates.The oral administration of misoprostol, particularly with pre-labor membrane rupture, mitigates the necessity for recurrent vaginal examinations, hence reducing the danger of infections for both the pregnant woman and the newborn.Aims/ objective: To compare the efficacy as well as safety of oral misoprostol versus intravenous oxytocin for labor induction in women with PROM. Materials and Method:In the misoprostol cohort, 75 participants received 50 mcg of oral misoprostol every four hours till delivery.The maximum dosage was restricted to 200 mcg.75 participants in the oxytocin group received an intravenous administration of a low-dose regimen of oxytocin, starting at an infusion rate of one to two mU/min.The dosage was progressively raised to 1 to 2 mU at 30-minute intervals to achieve moderate to strong contractions.The interval during induction to delivery was documented.All maternal or neonatal outcomes were documented. Results:The mean induction to delivery time was significantly lower in misoprostol group (331.26 33.73) as compared to oxytocin group (363.79 39.55) (p<0.0001).There was less incidence of cervical tear or perineal tear and neonatal complications in misoprostol group as compared to oxytocin group but the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion:In cases of PROM, oral misoprostol may be effectively utilized as a substitute for the administration of oxytocin or prostaglandin vaginal pessaries/gel to initiate labor.