[Peroral and intracervical administration of prostaglandin E2 for stimulation of term labor in premature rupture of fetal membranes].

The outcome of stimulation of labour in 219 primiparous patients with more than 6 hours following a premature rupture of the membranes, and with an ripe cervix, without the established labour, was analysed according to the mode of treatment. One hundred and thirty eight (138) women received PGE2 peroral tablets, 14 intracervical PGE2 gel, and 67 oxytocin intravenously. There were 73.2% vaginal deliveries in the group that received PGE2 per os, 77.5% in the group that received oxytocin, and 92.9% in the group that was given intracervical gel. The differences were significant. The cervix remained unripe in 9.4% patients that received PGE2 perorally, in 14.9% of those that received oxytocin, while in the gel group it became favourable in all parturients. Uterine polisistoly was encountered in 10.9% labours after peroral stimulation, in 7.1% in the gel group and in 1.5% in the oxytocin group, and perinatal asphyxia in 16.7%, 7.1% and 13.4%, respectively. When too frequent, especially if combined with oxytocin and given to patients with a moderately favourable cervix, peroral stimulation predisposes to uterine polisitoly. Intracervical application of PGE2 gel is the method of choice in primigravid patients with a premature rupture of the membranes and the unripe cervix (Bishop score O). In gravidas with a more favourable cervix (Bishop score 4-6) the administration of oxytocin is acceptable with less complications. In those with a moderately favourable cervix (Bishop score 1-4) the gel application proved to be preferable, although stimulation could be carried out as well.