Term versus preterm induction of labor: Does it change the outcome?

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Induction of labour is important to timely deliver the fetus and minimize adverse perinatal outcomes to both the mother and the neonate. Therefore, comparison of the outcomes following induction of labour at term and preterm is invaluable to assess its benefits and detriments. OBJECTIVE: Compare fetal and labour outcomes following induction of preterm and term singleton pregnancies. METHOD: This was a retrospective studycarried out at North Colombo Teaching Hospital using North Colombo Obstetric Database (NORCOD) between March 2014 and May 2016. Six hundred and one singleton pregnancies that underwent induction of labour were included. Timing of induction of labor was categorized intopreterm labor induction (<38 weeks) and term labour induction (38-42 weeks). Vaginal delivery rate and neonatal outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Out of 601 cases 18.5% (N=111) were induced preterm and 81.5% (N=490) were induced at term. Vaginal delivery rates between the two groups were 71.2% (N=79) and 78.6% (N=385) (P>0.05). Preterm induced deliveries had an APGAR <7 at 5 minutes in 3 babies (2.7%) and six term babies(1.2%) had an APGAR <7 at 5 minutes (P>0.05). Preterm induced pregnancies reported 28.8% (N=32) NICU admissions and term induced pregnancies had 14.9% (N=73) NICU admissions (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: There’s no significant difference in LSCS rates and low 5 min APGAR among two groups. However preterm induction significantly increases NICU admission of the newborn, which is expected due to the complications associated with prematurity of the newborn.