[Postpartal serum bilirubin levels in the newborn after induction of labour with "prostaglandin cap" or oxytocin (author's transl)].

In the course of a prospective study the development of Serum bilirubine levels was controlled in 90 neonates. In 30 cases labour had been induced by means of intravenous oxytocin infusion, in a further 30 cases by means of local peri-cervical prostaglandine E2 (PGE2)-application. The control group consisted of 30 children, with spontaneous onset of labour. Anamnesis, duration of gravidity, course of labour and method of delivery were the same in all groups; the neonates were all treated the same. The serum bilirubine was determined fotometrically with the Greiner Selective Analyzer GSA II on the 1st, 3rd and 5th post partum day and the results assessed by the multivariant analysis according to Newman-Keuls. No differences were found between the PGE2- and the control group, the bilirubine values of the oxytocin groups were significantly higher (p less than 0.001). Icteric neonates with serum bilirubine values of greater than 12 mg% were found more than double as often in the oxytocin group than in the PGE2- group (7:3). The results indicate, that for labour induction by pharmaceuticals, local application of PGE2 by means of a portio cap should be favored over intravenous oxytocin administration.