According to NICE guidance on induction of labour, when should induction be regarded as FAILED?

• A If the cervix remains uneffaced after 12 hours of prostaglandin
• B If the Bishop score has not improved by 3 points after one prostaglandin dose
• C If membranes have been ruptured for 6 hours without regular contractions
• D If the woman is not in established labour after 24 hours of induction with a single method or sequential methods ✓

Explanation

NICE defines failed induction as the absence of established labour after 24 hours of induction using one method or sequential methods, at which point the woman should be counselled about caesarean birth versus a further attempt. Options A and B describe intermediate assessments that guide dosing decisions, not the formal failure endpoint, and option C describes a period within normal oxytocin augmentation practice rather than a failure criterion.

Reference: NICE Guideline NG235: Inducing Labour, 2021 ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.