• B P Tan and M E Hannah.
• Suite 406, 988 West 21st Avenue, Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada, V5Z 1Z1. bptan88@hotmail.com
• Cochrane Db Syst Rev. 2000 Jan 1; 1997 (2): CD000158CD000158.

BackgroundThe conventional method of induction of labour is with intravenous oxytocin. More recently, induction with prostaglandins, followed by an infusion of oxytocin if necessary, has been used.ObjectivesThe objective of this review was to assess the effects of induction of labour with prostaglandins compared with oxytocin, at or near term.Search StrategyWe searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register.Selection CriteriaRandomised and quasi-randomised trials of early stimulation of uterine contractions with prostaglandins (with or without oxytocin) versus with oxytocin alone (not combined with prostaglandins) in women with spontaneous rupture of membranes before labour (34 weeks or more gestation).Data Collection And AnalysisTwo reviewers assessed trial quality and extracted data.Main ResultsSeventeen trials were included. Most of the trials were of moderate to good quality. Based on six trials, prostaglandins compared with oxytocin were associated with increased chorioamnionitis (odds ratio of 1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.07 to 2.09) and maternal nausea/vomiting. Based on eight trials, prostaglandins were associated with a decrease in epidural analgesia, odds ratio of 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.73 to 0.98 and internal fetal heart rate monitoring (based on one trial). Caesarean section, endometritis and perinatal mortality were not significantly different between the groups.Reviewer's ConclusionsWomen with prelabour rupture of membranes at or near term having their labour induced with prostaglandins appear to have a lower risk of epidural analgesia and fetal heart rate monitoring. However there appears to be an increased risk of chorioamnionitis and nausea/vomiting with prostaglandins compared to oxytocin.

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