Propess Suppository and Trans-cervical Foley Catheter Balloon for Cervical Ripening and Induction of Labor: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective To compare the effectiveness and safety of Foley catheter(FC) balloon and vaginal prostaglandin E2 suppository(Propess) for cervical ripening and labor induction in full-term pregnant women with unfavorable cervix.Methods A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted.The primiparas with term-pregnancy,singleton fetus in cephalic presentation,intact membranes,Bishop score6,medically indicated for labor induction from January to December 2010 in Xinjiang were randomly divided into two groups: Propess group(n=124) and FC group(n=128).The pregnant women in the two groups showed no statistically differences in gestational weeks,cervical score before labor induction,and induced labor indications(P0.05).The t test and χ2 or Fisher's exact test were used to compare the induction success rate,delivery mode,labor time,and maternal and neonatal outcomes between the two groups.Results There were no significant differences in Bishop score,success rate of induction,delivery mode,total duration of vaginal delivery,and volume of postpartum hemorrhage between the two groups(P0.05).However,compared with the FC group,in the Propess group the rate of vaginal delivery within 24 hours was lower,the times from induction to labor and from induction to delivery were longer,and the utilization rate of Oxytocin was higher,with significant differences(P0.05).No puerperal infection occurred in patients of both groups.Conclusion Under strict control of indication and aseptic manipulation,Foley catheter can get the similar efficacy and maternal-neonatal outcomes of induction with Propess for cervical ripening and induction of labor,and no over frequent and over intensive uterine contraction was found,so it is of such advantages as high security and lower cost.