Conditions: Induction of Labor in Multiparous Women
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 130
Healthy volunteers: yes

Brief summary:
This study will compare the effectiveness of vaginal misoprostol (Cytotec) and intravenous oxytocin (Pitocin) in multiparous women who present at term for labor induction.

Detailed description:
Both oxytocin and misoprostol have been demonstrated to be safe and effective methods for induction of labor. A direct comparison of efficacy and time to delivery in multiparas has not been specifically investigated. Additionally, the study will look at costs of the two drugs.Oxytocin is administered through an IV so requires more direct patient care time from the Registered Nurse, IV pump, and tubing, whereas misoprostol is a tablet, administered only once, per vagina or orally, every 4 hours. Misoprostol is also very inexpensive comparatively; if equally or more efficacious than oxytocin, this could demonstrate quite a cost and time savings to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and other institutions. Safety of either drug is not in question.

Arms:
arm 1: Dosage: 25 µg every 4 hours up to a maximum of 4 doses until cervical change is consistent with a diagnosis of active labor Route of administration: Intravaginal arm 2: 2 miu per minute increased in increments of 1-2 miu per minute every 30 minutes to establish an effective contraction pattern.

Route of administration: intravenous

Interventions: intervention 1: Vaginal Misoprostol intervention 2: Intravenous Oxytocin
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Dosage: 25 µg every 4 hours up to a maximum of 4 doses until cervical change is consistent with a diagnosis of active labor Route of administration: Intravaginal intervention 2: Dosage: 2 miu per minute increased in increments of 1-2 miu per minute every 30 minutes to establish an effective contraction pattern.

Route of administration: intravenous

Protocol document: