Prostaglandins for induction in pregnancies with fetal growth restriction

BACKGROUND: The data on safety of prostaglandin agents for induction of pregnancies with fetal growth restriction is limited. OBJECTIVE: To compare the rates of adverse outcomes among pregnancies with fetal growth restriction undergoing induction of labor with and without prostaglandins STUDY DESIGN: We performed a propensity-score-based secondary analysis of the Consortium on Safe Labor database. We included term, singleton, and nonanomalous pregnancies with fetal growth restriction (estimated fetal weight <10th percentile for gestational age). We excluded previous cesarean deliveries. The primary exposure was induction using prostaglandins (prostaglandin E₁ or prostaglandin E₂) compared with other methods. The primary outcome was a composite of adverse neonatal outcomes. The secondary outcomes included all cesarean deliveries and cesarean deliveries for nonreassuring fetal heart tracings. A subgroup analysis comparing the type of prostaglandin was planned a priori. The results are expressed as adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Of 756 (0.3%) inductions, 212 (28%) used prostaglandins (108 prostaglandin E₁, 94 prostaglandin E₂), and 553 (72%) used nonprostaglandin methods, including oxytocin (348, 63%), amniotomy (211, 38%), and/or mechanical dilation (9, 1%). There were no differences in the composite of adverse neonatal outcomes between the prostaglandin (10.4%) and the nonprostaglandin group (6.7%), adjusted odds ratio, 1.39 (0.64–3.03). The rate of cesarean delivery was higher in the inductions that received prostaglandins than those that did not (25.5% vs 14.8%, adjusted odds ratio, 1.80; 1.07–3.02). The rate of cesarean delivery for nonreassuring fetal heart tracings was higher for those that received prostaglandins than those that did not (16.0% vs 8.7%, adjusted odds ratio, 2.37; 1.28–4.41). When prostaglandin E₁ and prostaglandin E₂ were examined independently, there were similar increases in the composite of adverse neonatal outcomes and cesarean delivery rates for both prostaglandin E₁ and prostaglandin E₂ compared with nonprostaglandin controls. CONCLUSION: There were no differences in the composite of adverse neonatal outcomes when prostaglandins were used for induction in pregnancies with fetal growth restriction compared with other methods. However, there was a higher rate of cesarean delivery and cesarean delivery indicated for nonreassuring fetal heart tracings when prostaglandins (both prostaglandin E₁ and prostaglandin E₂) were used, compared with nonprostaglandin methods.