comparison of oral misoprostol and extra-amniotic foley's catheter with oxytocirx for induction of labour at term

To compare the efficacy and safety of misoprostol with a Foley's catheter and oxytocin for induction of laborator beyond term. Quasi experimental study. This study was carried out in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Railway Hospital Rawalpindi from January 2008 December 2008. Hundred patients requiring induction of labor at or beyond term with bishop less than 5 were randomized by lottery method to receive oral misoprostol or a cervical Foley's plus oxytocin. Patients in the misoprostol group [Group A] received 50 microgram misoprostol at6 hourly interval fora maximum of 4 doses or until an adequate contraction pattern developed. Those in the Foley's group [Group B] had a Foley's catheter inserted in the cervix. Whereas oxytocin was administered intravenously by a standard incremental infusion protocol to a maximum dose of 36 milliunits/min. The mean induction delivery interval is 9.8 hours in group A while in Group B the mean induction delivery interval was 17 hours. Although all patients delivered in both groups within 24 hours but the mean induction delivery interval was prolonged in Foley's group as compared to misoprostol group. The neonatal outcome was comparable in both the groups. Oral misoprostol at the dose 50 microgram is better than Foley's group for induction of labor at term