Second dose of PGE2 vaginal insert versus Foley transcervical balloon for induction of labor after failure of cervical ripening with PGE2 vaginal insert

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the success rate of induction of labor (IOL) using Foley transcervical balloon (FTB) versus prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) vaginal insert, following failure of cervical ripening with PGE2 vaginal insert. Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study of all pregnant women admitted for IOL with either FTB or PGE2 vaginal insert. Either second dose of PGE2 vaginal insert or FTB was used as a second line treatment after failure (not giving birth in 24 h from insertion) of first PGE2 vaginal insert. Results: During the study period, 1162 women were admitted for IOL. Failure was reported in 322/852 (37.8%) in the FTB versus 162/310 (52.2%) in the PGE2 group (p < 0.001). Among 162 patients treated with PGE2 as first line who did not deliver after 24 h, 14 had spontaneous rupture of membranes, 15 underwent stripping and 42 were in still in active labor. The remainder were allocated to either second trial of PGE2 treatment (n = 58) or FTB (n = 33) with failure rate higher in the PGE2 group, not statistically significant (p = 0.23). Conclusion: IOL with FTB was not superior to PGE2 vaginal insert for IOL following failure of cervical ripening with PGE2 vaginal insert.