[Comparison of the effectiveness of prostaglandin E2 gel in evening and morning induction of labor].

100 women participated in an open randomised study. 50 of them received 0.5 mg PGE2 in 2.5 ml Triacetin gel (Prepidil) intracervically in the morning (6.00 a.m.) and 50 at night (10.00 p.m.). The success rate was 74% (37 of 50) in the treatment group of the night compared with 52 (26 of 50) in the group of morning labor induction. A second dose after 8 hours was necessary in 26% (13 of 50) in the night group and in 48% (24 of 50) of the morning labor induction. Labor induction failed completely in 32% of the morning and in 12% of the night group. The induction time for contractions was 2 hours shorter after night labor induction, in primiparae the duration of first stage was 2 hours shorter but in multiparae there was no difference between the groups. There was also no difference in intrapartum and postpartum complications between the groups. In conclusion the induction of labor with intracervical PGE2 at night seems to be more effective without increasing the rate of complications.