Cervical ripening by using extra-amniotic dexamethasone infusion versus extra-amniotic saline infusion

Abstract

Background: Induction of labour is a commonly practiced obstetric intervention designed to artificially initiate the process of cervical effacement to achieve vaginal delivery.Objective: examine the hypothesis that corticosteroids, when administered extra-amniotically, can enhance labor process and reduce the induction--delivery interval in comparison with folly's and extra-amniotic saline infusion.Patients and methods: This, randomized case- control study was conducted on99 women, who were referred to the AL-Batool teaching Hospital in Diyala, Iraq, for induction of labor with a Bishop score of less than or equal to 5 from January 2014-March 2016, and divided into 2 groups, 1st group consist of 58 pregnant, a 26F catheter & and 20 mg of dexamethasone mixed with 20 ml of sterile saline solution infused extraamniotically. 2nd group consist of 41 pregnant, with the same size catheter attached to 500 ml of saline solution infused into the extra-amniotic space.Results: Administration of dexamethasone extraamnioticlly improve the Bishop score, reduce the time needed for expulsion of the catheter, shortening of 1st&2nd stage of labour without increasing the caesarean section rate.Conclusion: Extraamniotic administration of dexamethasone is effective & safe method for induction of labour.Keywords: labor, induction, corticosteroid, cervical ripening.