Induction of labour and its outcome in a teaching hospital

Introduction: A new guideline and a strict protocol of oxytocin infusion administered via an infusion pump was adopted for induction of labour (IOL) in the University Obstetric Unit, Teaching Hospital, Mahamodara, Galle, in 2006. Objective: To describe IOL and its outcome before and after adopting this new guideline and strict protocol of oxytocin infusion at the University Obstetric Unit, Teaching Hospital, Mahamodara, Galle. Methods: A prospective descriptive study. Using a pretested form data collected from 322 consecutive women who had IOL during a period of nine months commencing 15th June 2006, were compared with those obtained in the Teaching Hospital, Mahamodara, Galle in 2003 before the new guideline and strict protocol was implemented in the University Obstetric Unit, Galle. Results: In the University Obstetric Unit the rate of IOL was 8.5% in 2006. The leading indications for IOL were past dates (45.8% in 2003 and 45% in 2006) and pre labour rupture of membranes (28.2% in 2003 and 35.4% in 2006). Successful vaginal deliveries showed a possible increase from 84.7% in 2003 to 90.4% in 2006 and failed inductions showed a possible reduction from 3.8% in 2003 to 2.2% in 2006 ( p = 0.09). The mean induction delivery interval for a successful vaginal delivery was significantly shorter (318 min 95% CI 307 - 327, p Conclusion: After the adoption of the new guideline and oxytocin infusion protocol in 2006, IOL and its outcome have improved in the University Obstetric Unit, Galle. Key words: Induction of labour; labour outcomes. DOI: 10.4038/sljog.v31i2.1753 Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2009; 31: 97-103