Case records and commentaries

Abstract

In these study obstetric records of 144 parturiens induced with Prostaglandin E2 pessaries (3mg), either singly or in combination with amniotomy and/or syntocinon were reviewed. The labour induction rate by this method was 8 per cent. 68.1 per cent required only one pessary, 20.1/0 required two pessaries and 11.8 /0 required three pessaries. The duration of labour ,estimated from the onset of significant uterine contractions and cervical dilatation of at least 3cm, was longest with parturens receiving 3 pessaries (mean- - 405 mins ) and shortest with those requiring only one pessary (mean - 311 mins ). The partureins parity was the most influencial factor on the number of pessaries required to induce labour in this study. The Bishop score was not assessed because of unavailability of adequate records. The mean parity of those requiring one pessary was 1.3 and for those requiring 2 and 3 pessaries the mean was 0.8 and 0.9 respectively ( significance - 0.05). The overall Caesarean Section rate for patient in this study was 21.5 per cent. After insertion of 3 pessaries the rate was 64.7 per cent. With 1 and 2 pessaries the rate was 15.3 and 17.2 per cent respectively.