Cervical ripening and labor induction with a controlled-release dinoprostone vaginal insert: a meta-analysis

To systematically review published randomized trials that compared efficacy of a 10-mg, controlled-release dinoprostone vaginal insert with other prostaglandins for cervical ripening and labor induction.

We supplemented a search of entries in electronic databases with references cited in original studies and review articles to identify randomized clinical trials of dinoprostone vaginal inserts for cervical ripening and labor induction.

We evaluated, abstracted data, and assessed the quality of randomized clinical trials on the efficacy of dinoprostone vaginal inserts as cervical ripening and labor induction agents. Only published randomized trials were included in this meta-analysis.

Seventeen studies were identified, eight of which met our criteria for metaanalysis. Those eight trials included 964 subjects, 490 of whom were allocated to dinoprostone vaginal inserts and 474 to other prostaglandin (PG) preparations. We calculated an estimate of the odds ratio (OR) and risk difference for dichotomous outcomes, using a random- and fixed-effects model. Continuous outcomes were pooled using a variance-weighted average of within-study difference in means. Compared with women who received other PG preparations, those who received dinoprostone vaginal inserts had lower incidence of vaginal delivery within 12 hours of PG application (OR 0.55, 95% confidence interval 0.39, 0.79). Vaginal inserts were associated with longer intervals to vaginal delivery and lower rates of active labor. There were no differences in cesarean delivery rates, incidence of hyperstimulation, or need for oxytocin augmentation between dinoprostone and other PGs.

Dinoprostone vaginal insert was less effective than other prostaglandins for cervical ripening and labor induction.