[Induction of Labour In Growth Restricted and Small for Gestational Age Fetuses - A Historical Cohort Study].

Purpose: Induction of labour for small-for-gestational-age (SGA) foetus or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is common, but data are limited. The aim of this trial was therefore to compare labour induction for SGA/IUGR with cases with normal fetal growth beyond the 10 percentile.

Material And Methods: This historical multicentre cohort study included singleton pregnancies at term. Labour induction for SGA/IUGR (IUGR group) was compared with cases of fetal growth beyond the 10 percentile (control group). Primary outcome measure was caesarean section rate.

Results: The caesarean section rate was not different between the 2 groups (27.0 vs. 26.2%, p=0.9154). In the IUGR group, abnormal CTG was more common (30.8 vs. 21.9%, p=0.0214), and fetal blood analyses were conducted more often (2.5 vs. 0.5%, p=0.0261). There were more postpartum transfers to the NICU in the IUGR group (40.0 vs. 12.8%, p<0.0001), too.

Conclusion: Induction of labour for fetal growth restriction was not associated with an increased rate of caesarean section.