A Comparison Between Sublingual Misoprostol and Intravenous Oxytocin for Inducing labor in Women with Term Pregnancy

Objective: In this study efficacy of sub lingual Misoprostol was examined in comparison to Oxytocin (I.V.) for inducing of labor in term pregnancy.Materials and methods: Seventy patients were allocated by blocked randomization to Groups A (n=35, sub lingual Misoprostol 25 μg four hourly to maximum of 5 doses) and B (n=35, continuous Oxytocin infusion).Results: Delivery active phase and total labor phase were shorter with sublingual Misoprostol in comparison to intravenous Oxytocin (p< 0.001) and the rate of cesarean section was lower in Misoprostol group (p<0.04) but delivery latent phase, meconium staining, uterine hypertonisity and apgar score (1&5 minute) were similar in two groups.Conclusion: sublingual Misoprostol is better than intravenous Oxytocin for induction of labor at term.