[Cervical ripening at term with repeated administration of dinoprostone vaginal pessary].

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate efficacy and safety of cervical ripening with repeated administration of dinoprostone slow release vaginal pessary (Propess®) in current practice.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

An observational study of 111 women who underwent cervical ripening with two Propess® during the study period from 1st July 2007 to 31st October 2011. Modes of delivery, success of cervical ripening, failure of labor induction, maternal and neonatal morbidity were reported.

RESULTS

The nulliparous rate was 75,7%. The main indications for induction of labor were post-term pregnancy in 34,3% (38/111) and premature rupture of membranes in 25,2% (28/111). The rate of vaginal delivery was 53,1% (59/111). Cesarean sections were performed for failure of labor induction in 27/52 (51,9%) and an abnormal fetal heart rate in 17/52 (32.7%). Indication for induction of labor, nulliparous patients (44 [84.6%] versus 40 [67.8%]; P=0.04), initial Bishop score (2.2±1.2 versus 2.9±1.2; P=0.04) before the cervical ripening and Bishop score before administration of second Propess® (3.3±1.4 versus 4.0±1.2; P=0.05) were significant risk factors of cesarean delivery.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

In more than half of the cases, the cervical ripening by two Propess® is efficient and allows a vaginal delivery. This practice does not appear to increase the maternal or neonatal morbidity.