Effect of Foley Catheter in Prepration of Cervix for Delivery

Abstract The aim of this study was comparing the efficacy of induction of labor using balloon Foley catheter with conventional Oxytocin infusion method in cases of unfavorable cervix. 60 pregnant women that had an indication for induction of labor with a singleton vertex fetuses, intact membranes, and bishop score lower than 4 interred in this study and allocated in one of two induction methods randomly (30 women in each group). Method of induction was insertion of Foley catheter no. 18 with a 30 ml balloon (Badex Foley Catheter) in Case group. Inductions were done by Oxytocine drip in control group. Cesarean rate, number of induction tries, Bishop Score change, dilatation of cervix, and the induction to delivery interval were assessed and compared in two groups with Chi square, Fisher exacted, T-Student, and Mann- Whitney tests. Cesarean rate were 43% and 63% in case and control groups respectively. The mean of Bishop Score change in two groups were 5±1.7 and 2.5±1.2 respectively (P<0.01). The means of induction to delivery interval were 8.6±3.3 hours and 15.8±3.2 hours respectively without statistical significant difference. The Foely catheter is a superior method for cervix ripening and labor induction of unfavorable cervixes compared with conventional Oxytocin infusion method.