In 38 pregnant patients at term with unfavorable cervices labor induction was initiated with PG-E2 after a preceding intracervical application of 0.1, 0.2 or 0.3 mg PG-E2 in 1 ml viscous gel. The ...mean Bishop score improved from 3.36 to 7.0 in an average time of 2 h 37 min. The cervical diameter increased from 14 mm to 22.7 mm. 31 patients delivered their babies spontaneously, while 7 patients were delivered by cesarean section due to cervical dystocia and delayed labor. Fetal outcome was normal in all cases, with an average Apgar score of 8.7 and an average pH-value in the umbilical artery of 7.245. The study indicates that local application of PG-E2 induces cervical dilatation, and is of particular use in patients presenting a low Bishop score. A possible local effect of PG E2 is discussed.
Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is an uncommon disease with a poor prognosis. Most patients with PPH are young women of child-bearing age. We report on such a case of PPH during pregnancy, ...discuss the aetiology, pathophysiology, morphological characteristics and the management in pregnancy and delivery.