Maternal and prenatal factors influencing the outcome of prostaglandin E2 induced labour.

In this retrospective cohort study involving 393 singleton pregnancies, we evaluated the maternal and prenatal factors influencing the use of and the outcome of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) induced labours. Only a nulliparous pregnancy was shown to be a significant predictor of the use of more than one dose of PGE(2) (odds ratio, OR 2.73, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.61-4.63). When the type of delivery was assessed, nulliparous status was significantly associated with a decreased chance of vaginal delivery (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.045-0.32). Other variables that positively influence the chance of vaginal delivery include a mother's age being under 30 years (OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.51-4.58) and a single dose of PGE(2) (OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.21-6.79). Gestational age, fetal weight and maternal BMI have much less impact on PGE(2) use and chance of successful vaginal delivery than parity.