Evaluation of Propess outcomes for cervical ripening and induction of labour in full-term pregnancy

This study was to investigate the efficiency and safety of vaginal Propess as a methodology for cervical ripening and labour induction in full-term pregnant patients. Women at term with a Bishop's score of < 6 and without any contraindications, to vaginal delivery, or the use of prostaglandin or oxytocin in induction of labour, were divided into three groups: oxytocin group (n = 59), intact membranes (Propess I group; n = 58) and natural rupture (Propess R group; n = 52) groups. The main outcome measures, including change in Bishop's score, induction to delivery interval, total delivery time, rate of vaginal delivery, fetal outcome and maternal complications during induction, were recorded. In the Propess groups, the Bishop's score and rate of vaginal delivery were significantly higher while the induction to delivery interval and total delivery time were much shorter, as compared with oxytocin patients (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in fetal and maternal outcome during induction between the Propess groups and oxytocin group (p > 0.05). In addition, there were no significant differences of Bishop's score, rate of vaginal delivery, induction to delivery interval and total delivery time between the Propess I group and Propess R group (p > 0.05). Propess is an effective and safe approach to promote cervical ripening and be successfully used in induction of labour.