Prediction of start of contractions in labor induced with oral prostaglandin E2 or oxytocin: a life table analysis approach

Abstract

Labor was induced for medical reasons at or near term in altogether 200 patients. All women had amniotomy and were then randomly assigned to either oral prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) or intravenous infusion of oxytocin (Oxy). In this study PGE2 and Oxy treatment were compared with respect to time to contractions. Other not randomized but prognostic variables compared here were, e.g. dilatation, parity and Bishop score. All comparisons were performed with the life table technique. Labor was established earlier in the Oxy group than in the PGE2 group of patients. In both treatment groups parity and dilatation were more strongly related to start of contractions than to Bishop score.