Misoprostol vs dinoprostone vaginal insert in labour induction: comparison of obstetrical outcome

Induction of labour (IOL) is increasingly used in obstetric practice. For patients with unfavourable cervix, we are constantly looking for an optimal, in terms of effectiveness and safety, ripening of cervix protocol. It was retrospective cohort study. We analyzed obstetrical results in 481 patients undergoing IOL in one center using two different vaginal inserts that release prostaglandins at a constant rate for 24 h—misoprostol vaginal insert (MVI) with 200 µg of misoprostol (n = 367) and dinoprostone vaginal insert (DVI) with 10 mg of dinoprostone (n = 114). Full-term, single pregnancy patients with intact fetal membranes and the cervix evaluated in Bishop score ≤ 6 were included in the analysis. In the group of MVI patients, the labour ended with caesarean section more often (OR 2.71 95% CI 1.63–4.47) and more frequent unreassuring cardiotocographic trace indicating the surgical delivery occurred (OR 2.38 95% CI 1.10–5.17). We did not notice any differences in the percentage of vacuum extraction and patients in whom the use of oxytocin was necessary during labour induction. The clinical status of newborns after birth and the pH of cord blood did not differ between groups.The use of MVI 200 μg in patients with an unriped cervix is associated with a greater chance of completing delivery by caesarean section and increased chance of abnormal intrapartum CTG trace compared to the use of DVI 10 mg. These differences do not affect the clinical and biochemical status of the newborn.