Induction versus expectant monitoring for intrauterine growth restriction at term: randomised equivalence trial (DIGITAT)

Abstract

Objective To compare the effect of induction of labour with a policy of expectant monitoring for intrauterine growth restriction near term.Design Multicentre randomised equivalence trial (the Disproportionate Intrauterine Growth Intervention Trial At Term (DIGITAT)).Setting Eight academic and 44 non-academic hospitals in the Netherlands between November 2004 and November 2008.Participants Pregnant women who had a singleton pregnancy beyond 36+0 weeks’ gestation with suspected intrauterine growth restriction.Interventions Induction of labour or expectant monitoring.Main outcome measures The primary outcome was a composite measure of adverse neonatal outcome, defined as death before hospital discharge, five minute Apgar score of less than 7, umbilical artery pH of less than 7.05, or admission to the intensive care unit. Operative delivery (vaginal instrumental delivery or caesarean section) was a secondary outcome. Analysis was by intention to treat, with confidence intervals calculated for the differences in percentages or means.Results 321 pregnant women were randomly allocated to induction and 329 to expectant monitoring. Induction group infants were delivered 10 days earlier (mean difference −9.9 days, 95% CI −11.3 to −8.6) and weighed 130 g less (mean difference −130 g, 95% CI −188 g to −71 g) than babies in the expectant monitoring group. A total of 17 (5.3%) infants in the induction group experienced the composite adverse neonatal outcome, compared with 20 (6.1%) in the expectant monitoring group (difference −0.8%, 95% CI −4.3% to 3.2%). Caesarean sections were performed on 45 (14.0%) mothers in the induction group and 45 (13.7%) in the expectant monitoring group (difference 0.3%, 95% CI −5.0% to 5.6%).Conclusions In women with suspected intrauterine growth restriction at term, we found no important differences in adverse outcomes between induction of labour and expectant monitoring. Patients who are keen on non-intervention can safely choose expectant management with intensive maternal and fetal monitoring; however, it is rational to choose induction to prevent possible neonatal morbidity and stillbirth.Trial registration International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial number ISRCTN10363217.

Trends in planned early birth: a population-based study

“…DIGITAT reported no important differences in outcomes between labor induction and expectant monitoring for women with clinically suspected growth restriction at term. 46 In contrast, HYPITAT found labor induction for women with gestational hypertension or mild preeclampsia at term improved maternal outcome without increasing cesarean rate. 47 Our study has limitations.…”

Randomized Trial of Labor Induction in Women 35 Years of Age or Older

“…Most trials of induction at or near term have involved women with established complications of pregnancy such as hypertension, 17 prelabor rupture of membranes, 18 fetal growth restriction, 19 diabetes, 20 or fetal macrosomia. 21 The few trials of induction that did not involve women with complications [22][23][24][25] were relatively small (a total of 1377 women in four trials), date from the 1970s, and may not be applicable to modern obstetrical practice.…”

Reducing caesarean section rates – No easy task

“…[10][11][12][13][14] Issues relating to variations in practice with respect to oxytocin administration, dosage, infusion protocols and maximal dose administered have been identified as key to maximising vaginal birth rates and minimising adverse maternal and fetal effects of the drug. 16,17 In contrast to increasing the success of labour inductions, global reduction in intrapartum caesareans and increases in TOLAC/VBAC rates are less likely to be feasible.…”