Influence of gestational diabetes mellitus on outcomes of preinduced labour with dinoprostone vaginal insert.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of labour preinduction using a dinoprostone vaginal insert in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus versus patients undergoing labour induction for other causes. The second aim of the study was to compare perinatal outcomes in both groups.

Material and methods: The study has a retrospective character, conducted in 2019-2021 in a tertiary reference hospital. The following endpoints were assumed for the analysis: natural childbirth, birth occurring within 12 hours of dinoprostone administration and neonatal outcomes. Furthermore, indications of a Caesarean section were analysed.

Results: The percentage of natural childbirths was similar in both groups. Furthermore, in both groups, over 80% of patients gave birth within less than 12 hours following dinoprostone administration. Neonatal outcomes (body weight, Apgar score) did not differ statistically. Analysing indications for a Caesarean section, failure in the progress of labour was an indication in 39.5% of cases in the control group, 29.4% of cases in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and 50% of cases in diabetes mellitus (DM). The risk of foetal asphyxia was an indication in 55.8% of cases in the control group, 35.3% of cases in GDM and 50% of cases in DM. Ineffective labour induction - no induction of the contractile function was an indication for a C-section in 4.7% of cases in the control group and 35.3% of cases in GDM; no cases were noted in DM (p = 0.024).

Conclusions: The study demonstrated that patients undergoing labour induction due to GDM using a dinoprostone vaginal insert did not differ in terms of labour duration, oxytocin administration compared to patients undergoing labour induction for other causes. Furthermore, the same rate of Caesarean sections was found in the study group; however, these groups differ in terms of indications, including risk of foetal asphyxia (35.3% vs 55.8%), failure in the progress of labour (29.4% vs 39.5%), and no active labour (1.8% vs 1.5%). The neonatal Apgar score at 1.5 and 10 minutes after birth was similar in both groups.