A Comparative Study of Oral versus Vaginal 25μg Misoprostol for Induction of Labour in Post Dated Pregnancy

Objective of this study was to achieve a safe vaginal delivery of patients with post datism by induction of labour. We sought to compare the efficacy and safety of oral misoprostol with vaginal misoprostol. 100 patients with post datism for induction of labour were divided into oral and vaginal group equally. Both the groups received 25mcg of misoprostol every 4 th hrly, either orally with water or it was digitally administered in the posterior fornix in the vaginal group, maximum upto 6 doses in either group. Primary outcome of the study was shorter induction –delivery interval in both oral group (11.86±3.10) and vaginal group (12.92±3.36). Mean Apgar score at 1 min in oral group is 6.86±0.78 and at 5 min 9.24±0.87. In vaginal group 6.740.83 at 1 min and 9.04±0.99 at 5 min. NICU admissions are statistically not significant with minimal maternal side effects. Oral misoprostol (25mcg) is as effective as vaginal misoprostol (25mcg) for induction of labour in post dated pregnancy with shorter induction –delivery interval and good perinatal outcome with minimal maternal side effects. So, misoprostol is safe and inexpensive.