Preinduction prostaglandin E2 gel prior to induction of labor in women with a previous cesarean section.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of preinduction cervical ripening with 0.5 mg of intracervical prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) gel in women with a previous cesarean section. A retrospective cohort study design was used to compare 117 women with one previous cesarean section (VBACS) with 354 nulliparas. Both groups received preinduction cervical ripening treatment with intracervical PGE2 gel. Student's t and chi 2 tests were used to evaluate group differences. Mantel-Haenszel summary risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals were examined in order to assess the relative risk of cesarian section delivery after adjusting for potential confounders. The mean numbers of PGE2 gel applications were 2.4 and 2.5 for VBACS and controls, respectively (p < 0.05). Thirty-nine percent of VBACS entered labor spontaneously as compared with 33% of nulliparas. Mean duration of ruptured membranes (8.2 vs. 12.1 h) and length of labor (20.1 vs. 28.5 h) were reduced among VBACS as compared with controls (p < 0.05). Overall, VBACS had a higher cesarean section rate as compared with controls (49.6 vs. 31.9%; adjusted relative risk = 1.6, 95% confidence interval 1.2-2.1). There were no differences in the occurrence of maternal and fetal morbidity. Overall, the efficacy and safety of 0.5 mg PGE2 gel administered for preinduction cervical ripening in VBACS is comparable to that observed in nulliparas.