A new indication for elective induction of labor COVID-19 pandemic effect

Authors

  • Isha Nandal Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, S. G. T Medical College, Gurugram, Haryana, India
  • Surinder Pal Singh Kochar Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, S. G. T Medical College, Gurugram, Haryana, India
  • Rajvir Kaur Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, S. G. T Medical College, Gurugram, Haryana, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20215091

Keywords:

Induction of labor, COVID-19, LSCS

Abstract

Background: Induction of labour is performed in certain circumstances which involve greater risks of waiting for the onset of spontaneous labour than the risks due to shortening the duration of pregnancy by induction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the maternal and fetal outcome in patients undergoing elective induction during COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted on 60 ANC patients with singleton pregnancy and POG >39 weeks coming to OPD with negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report. To avoid the burden of repeat testing after one week and risk of exposure to COVID-19 virus from community, patients were induced. All the data was recorded and analyzed.

Results: Most of the patients were in age group of 20-25 years (50%) and only 6.7% of the patients were older than 30 years. 32 (53.3%) patients were multiparous and 50% of the patients were having Bishop score between 2-5 and only 8.3% had bishop score of more than 5. 47 patients (78.3%) underwent normal vagina delivery whereas 12 patients (20%) underwent LSCS. Failure of Induction was the indication for LSCS in 5 patients (41.7%).

Conclusions: Elective induction was found to be better option in COVID-19 negative patients. All pregnant women should be monitored for development of symptoms and signs of COVID-19 particularly if they have had close contact with a confirmed case. Pregnancy and childbirth generally do not increase the risk for acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection but may worsen the clinical course of COVID-19 compared with nonpregnant individuals of the same age.

 

References

Burki T. The indirect impact of COVID-19 on women. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020;20:904-5.

Roberton T, Carter ED, Chou VB. Early estimates of the indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and child mortality in low-income and middle-income countries: a modelling study. Lancet Glob Health. 2020;8:e901-8.

Talaulikar VS, Arulkumaran S. Failed induction of labor: Strategies to improve the success rates. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2011;66:717-28.

Van Well GTJ, Daalderop LA, Wolfs T, Kramer BW. Human perinatal immunity in physiological conditions and during infection. Mol Cell Pediatr. 2017;4:4.

Darney BG, Snowden JM, Cheng YW, Jacob L, Nicholson JM, Kaimal A, et al. Elective induction of labor at term compared with expectant management: maternal and neonatal outcomes. Obstet Gynecol. 2013;122:761-9.

Harkness M, Yuill C, Cheyne H. Induction of labour during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey of impact on practice in the UK. BMC Pregn Childbirth. 2021;21:310.

Yan J, Guo J, Fan C, Juan J, Yu X, Li J, et al. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnant women: a report based on 116 cases. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020;45:53-9.

Cheng YW, Jacob L. Induction of labor. Obstet Gynecol. 2009;114(2):386-97.

Boelig RC, Manuck T, Oliver EA, Di Mascio D, Saccone G, Bellussi F, et al. Labor and delivery guidance for COVID-19. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020; 2:100110.

Chen H, Guo J, Wang C, Luo F, Yu X, Zhang W, et al. Clinical characteristics and intrauterine vertical transmission potential of COVID-19 infection in nine pregnant women: a retrospective review of medical records. Lancet. 2020;395:809-15.

Rasmussen SA, Smulian JC, Lednicky JA, Wen TS, Jamieson DJ. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and pregnancy: what obstetricians need to know. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020;222:415-26.

Favre G, Pomar L, Musso D, Baud D. 2019-NCoV epidemic: what about pregnancies?. Lancet Lond. 2020;395(10224):e40.

Breslin N, Baptiste C, Gyamfi-Bannerman C, Miller R, Martinez R, Bernstein K. COVID-19 infection among asymptomatic and symptomatic pregnant women: two weeks of confirmed presentations to an affiliated pair of New York City hospitals. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020:100118.

Zhu H, Wang L, Fang C, Peng S, Zhang L, Chang G. Clinical analysis of 10 neonates born to mothers with 2019-NCoV pneumonia. Transl Pediatr. 2020;9(1): 51-60.

Downloads

Published

2021-12-28

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles