[Induced labor with prostaglandins in birth weight below 2,500 g]

In a multicenter study the deliveries of 127 newborn infants with a birth weight less than 2500 grams were evaluated after induction of labour using prostaglandins, among them 90 infants with a birth weight below the 10. percentile in relation to the gestational age. The control group were 1566 deliveries of newborns with normal weight, delivered at term after induction with prostaglandins. The rate of vaginal deliveries was 67.6% in the group of newborns weighing less than 2500 grams and 84.1% in the control group. The rate of acidotic newborns (pH < 7.20) was remarkably higher in newborns below 2500 grams (12.6%), especially in the subgroup of growth retarded newborns (16.7%), when compared to the control group (9.5%). In primaiparae with fetal growth retardation and low Bishop score the induction of labour with prostaglandins resulted in an insufficient progress of labour. In this subgroup the rate of cesarean deliveries was 83.3%. Induction of labour was substantially more successful after premature rupture of membranes. The most favourable results were achieved in multiparae after premature rupture of membranes which resulted in vaginal deliveries in 94.5% of cases independent of gestational age.