Comparison of low dose vaginal misoprostol with Foley catheter balloon as preinduction cervical ripening agents in term pregnancies

Abstract

Objective: One of the obstetricians’ nightmare is managing high-risk pregnancies. Also, the emerging trend by pregnant women requesting for specific delivery dates for social reasons adds to this burden. In both instances, the obstetrician is faced with the challenge of inducing labor where the cervix is still unfavorable. The objective of the study was to compare the effectiveness of loe dose vaginal misoprostol and transcervical extra-amniotic Foley catheter balloon as pre-induction cervical ripening agents in term pregnancies. Material and Methods: This was a prospective, single-blind, randomized comparative trial at a tertiary hospital. Pregnant women at term in whom induction of labor was indicated, who made the inclusion criteria and who gave their consent were randomly assigned to either the vaginal misoprostol or the Foley catheter balloon group. Oxytocin was used for the augmentation of labor subsequent to the artificial rupture of the membranes according to the departmental protocols. Results: One hundred and fifty women were recruited and randomized (75 in each group). In the misoprostol group, 58 (77.3%) women achieved cervical ripening (cervical dilation of ≥4) within 12 h, compared to 43 (57.3%) in the Foley catheter balloon group. Spontaneous vaginal delivery within 12 h was 88.0% and 66.3% in the misoprostol and Foley catheter group, respectively. However, 34.7% in misoprostol group had precipitate labor (induction-to-delivery interval ≤3 h), while 9.3% in the Foley catheter group had prolonged labor. There were no significant differences in the incidence of meconium staining and 1st min Apgar scores of the babies in the two groups. Conclusion: Low dose (25 μg) vaginal misoprostol is a more effective pre-induction cervical ripening agent compared to the conventional transcervical extra-amniotic Foley catheter balloon method. While uterine hyperstimulation is the major risk in the misoprostol group, long induction-to-delivery interval is associated with labors induced following use of Foley catheter balloon as the pre-induction cervical ripening agent.