Electrohysterographic characterization of the uterine myoelectrical response to labor induction drugs

Labor induction is a common practice to promote uterine contractions and labor onset. Uterine electrohysterogram (EHG) has proved its suitability for characterizing the uterus electrophysiological condition in women with spontaneous labor. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare uterine myoelectrical activity during the first 4 h in response to labor induction drugs, Misoprostol (G1) and Dinoprostone (G2), by analyzing the differences between women who achieved active phase of labor and those who did not (successful and failed inductions). A set of temporal, spectral and complexity parameters were computed from the EHG-bursts. As for successful inductions, statistical significant and sustained increases with respect to basal period were obtained for EHG amplitude, mean frequency, uterine activity index (UAI) and Teager, after 60′ for the G1 group; duration, amplitude, number of contractions and UAI for the G2 group, after 120′. Moreover, Teager showed statistical significant and sustained differences between successful and failed inductions (1.43 ± 1.45 µV2.Hz2.105 vs. 0.40 ± 0.26 µV2.Hz2.105 after 240′) for the G1 group, but not in the G2 group, probably due to the slower pharmacokinetics of this drug. These results revealed that EHG could be useful for successful induction prediction in the early stages of induction, especially when using Misoprostol.