Induction of labor with oral prostaglandin E2

Prostaglandin E (PGE2) was administered orally for induction of labor to 100 patients. Active labor and progression occurred in 92 per cent of these cases. The dosage regimen used was 0.5 to 1.5 mg. hourly. Amniotomy was performed in most cases once active labor and progression were noted. There were 83 vaginal deliveries and 12 cesarean sections. There were eight failure of induction, one patient left the study, and one was not delivered at that admission. Fetal distress occurred in 10 patients but this was related to cord and placental problems and not to PGE2 per se. Side effects were minimal, the most prominent being nausea and vomiting. Total labor in hours compares to normal labor. Over-all, labor in primigravidas averaged 10.15 hours and 6.5 hours in multiparas. There was a direct relationship of the Bishop score to the start of active labor and progression. PGE2 appears safe and efficacious for inductions of labor at terms.