Objectives: To compare efficacy and safety of 50 mg vaginal Misoprostol with transcervical Foley's catheter and
intravenous oxytocin for labor induction.
Method(S): 150 women at term gestation, with Bishop score < 4, with various indications for labor induction were
randomly allocated to receive either Misoprostol vaginally'6 hourly (maximum 4 doses) or transcervical Foley's
catheter with intravenous oxytocin (2 mU/minute to a maximum of 32 mU/minute or till the woman goes into active
labour).
Results: In Misoprostol group induction-delivery interval was significantly less (11.58 vs 19.45 hours) and successful
induction significantly higher (98% vs 78%) as compared to catheter/oxytocin group. Eighty-eight percent of the
women delivered within 24 hours of induction in misoprostol group whereas in the other group 72% delivered within
24 hours. Eighteen percent of women delivered with a single dose of misoprostol while 28% required the maximum
dosages of oxytocin.
Conclusion(S): Vaginal misoprostol is a cheap, highly effective and easy to administer agent for labour induction.