Induction of Labor: A Comparison of Guidelines

Author(s): Muneera Ahmed AlKhalifa, Stephanie Hsu, Nusiba ElHassan, Basma AlAnsari, Rehab Ismael, Gulmeen Raza, Hosni Malas, Mahmoud Samy Ismail

Introduction: Induction of labor (IOL) is a com-monly performed obstetric procedure that initiates labor prior to its spontaneous onset. It is advised when the benefits of terminating the pregnancy outweigh the risks of ongoing pregnancy.

Aim: This is a review article that compares the most recent international guidelines on IOL by organizations including World Health Organization (WHO), the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC), the Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI) and Queensland Health. We will also compare these recommendations to the current guidelines set in our institute, King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH) in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Conclusion: The most notable differences were observed in the Bishop scoring with minor differences in the methods of induction and management of complications. Improving KHUH guidelines in particular areas would enhance patient care. Regular audits are essential to ensure practice is consistent with the guidelines.