Aim: To assess how intramuscular dexamethasone affected length of labor brought on by vaginal misoprostol in cases of postdate pregnancy.
Patients and methods: 100 women with postdate pregnancies were randomized in two groups: Group1 (n= 50) received single dose of 8 mg dexamethazone in 2 mL solution intramuscular and group2 (n=50) received 2 ml isotonic saline (placebo group). Dexamethasone and placebo groups of the trial saw withdrawal of 10 and 11 individuals. Misoprostol (50 µg) at 6-hour intervals was given after prop‌er monitoring.
Results: In dexamethazone group, 77.5 percent of women gave birth within 12 hours, as opposed to 35.9 percent in the placebo group (P < 0.05). When compared to placebo group, dexamethasone group's induction to delivery time was quicker (680.1 ± 55.4 min versus 766.1 ± 58.3 min., p < 0.001). Additionally, time from start of labor induction and start of active phase of labor was shorter in the dexamethazone group as compared to placebo group (253.9 ± 47.4 min versus 306.1 ± 37.2 min., p < 0.001). Additionally, patients in dexamethazone group experienced active phase of labor that was shorter (394.6 ± 36.9 compared 419.1 ± 31.3 min., p 0.000) and second stage of labor that was much shorter (19.1 ± 2.8 versus 28.7 ± 3.0 min).
Conclusions: In postdate pregnancy, intramuscular dexamethasone and vaginal misoprostol reduced interval between labor induction and beginning of active phase of labor. Interval between active stage and second stage of labor also was shorter.