Am J Perinatol
DOI: 10.1055/a-1948-2779

Nazineen Kandahari

1   University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, United States (Ringgold ID: RIN12224)

,

Allison Schneider

2   Obstetrics & Gynecology, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, United States (Ringgold ID: RIN23146)

,

Lue-Yen Tucker

3   Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, United States (Ringgold ID: RIN73265)

,

Tina R. Raine-Bennett

3   Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, United States (Ringgold ID: RIN73265)

,

Vanitha J Mohta

4   Obstetrics & Gynecology, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Walnut Creek, United States (Ringgold ID: RIN214681)

Objective: In 2012, two Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals began offering outpatient cervical ripening with oral misoprostol under a study protocol. We evaluated inpatient time from admission to delivery and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with outpatient use of misoprostol for cervical ripening among low-risk women with term pregnancies. Study Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 345 women who received misoprostol outpatient vs. inpatient at the study sites (n=1,374) and at all Kaiser hospitals (n=9,908) between 2012 and 2017. Results: Women in the outpatient group were more likely to be White than both inpatient groups (63.3% vs. 56.3% at study sites and 47.1% all hospitals, P=.002 and <.001); other demographics were clinically comparable. Most women undergoing labor induction were nulliparous; however, a greater proportion in the outpatient group were nulliparous compared to inpatient groups (70.8% vs. 61.8% and 64.3%, P=.002 and .01). Prior to the administration of misoprostol, women in the outpatient misoprostol group were more likely to present with no cervical dilation (34.7% vs. 34.9% and 34.9%, P=.10 and >.999). On inpatient admission, women who received outpatient misoprostol were more likely to have a cervical dilation of ≥3 cm (39.8% vs. 12.5% and 9.7%, P<.001). The outpatient group had a shorter mean time between admission and delivery (23.6 vs. 29.4 and 29.8 hours, P<.001). The adjusted estimated mean difference between the outpatient and inpatient groups in time from admission to delivery was -6.48 hours (P<.001), and the adjusted estimated mean difference in cervical dilation on admission was +1.02 cm (P<.001). There was no difference in cesarean delivery rates between groups. Conclusion: Outpatient use of misoprostol for cervical ripening is associated with reduced inpatient time from admission to delivery compared to inpatient misoprostol, and had no difference in rates of cesarean delivery or maternal or neonatal complications.

Received: 08 May 2022

Accepted after revision: 14 September 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
21 September 2022

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