Beta-Blocker Role in Induction of Labor: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Induction of labor when compared to expectant management, there is a noticeable decrease in perinatal mortality when labor is induced at or after 37 weeks of gestation. Additionally, it lowers the rate of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) hospitalizations and cesarean section rates (CS) without increasing the number of operational vaginal births. Objective: To evaluate the outcome of adding propranolol to misoprostol for induction of labor compared to misoprostol alone. Subjects and methods: This is Randomized Clinical Trial that was performed in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University. A total of 160 pregnant women candidates for induction of labor for different obstetric indications were divided into two groups. Group I: included 80 patients and labor was induced using misoprostol preceded by placebo pills. Group II: 80 patients and labor was induced using misoprostol preceded by propranolol. Result: The duration of the active phase, the induction-delivery interval, and the latent phase varied statistically significantly across the groups under study. Regarding the units of oxytocin and misoprostol needed to produce a sufficient uterine contraction, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups under study but their doses needed to achieve adequate uterine contractions is decreased in propnalol group . Conclusion: Propranolol, when administered alongside misoprostol for labor induction, enhances the efficacy of misoprostol and greatly reduces the induction-delivery interval, thereby serving as an adjuvant to misoprostol.