A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 23 studies with a total of 8 615 subjects. Planned management was generally induction with oxytocin or prostaglandin (vaginal prostaglandin E2 and oral, sublingual or vaginal misoprostol). Significantly fewer women in the planned groups had chorioamnionitis and/or endometritis (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.72; 8 trials, n=6864; I²=72%) and fewer infants had definite or probable early-onset neonatal sepsis(RR 0.73; 95% CI 0.58 to 0.92; 16 trials, n=7314) under planned management went to neonatal intensive or special care (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.92, NNT 20; 5 trials, 5679 infants). No difference was seen for caesarean section (RR 0.84; 95% CI 0.69 to 1.04; 23 trials, n=8576; I²=55%); serious maternal morbidity or mortality (no events; 3 trials; n=425); definite early-onset neonatal sepsis (RR 0.57; 95% CI 0.24 to 1.33; 6 trials, n=1303); or perinatal mortality (RR 0.47; 95% CI 0.13 to 1.66; 8 trials, n=6392).
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