COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN FOLEY CATHETER AND DINOPROSTONE GEL FOR CERVICAL RIPENING AND INDUCTION OF LABOUR IN PATIENTS AT TERM WITH UNFAVOURABLE CERVIX (BISHOP'S SCORE<4)

Abstract

BACKGROUND- Since ancient times, labour inducton is a well established obstetric concept. In the past few decades, rate of labour induction has increased dramatically. The primary objective of this study was to compare the efcacy of transcervical foley catheter with intracervical dinoprostone gel for cervical ripening and labour induction in term singleton pregnancies with unfavourable cervix. METHODS- Term singleton pregnancies fullling inclusion criteria were randomized by chit box system to receive intracervical dinoprostone or transcervical foley catheter. Progress of labour was monitored with the help of partogram. Labour augmentation was done by oxytocin. RESULTS- 110 patients in each group were enrolled. Group A was induced with transcervical Foley catheter and group B with dinoprostone gel. Baseline characteristics like maternal age, parity, gestational age were comparable in each group. There was a signicant difference in the Bishop's score (&lt;.0.05) at the end of 12 hours, Group B showing a greater improvement than A. A signicant difference was also observed in the requirement of augmentation with Pitocin, 77.27% in foley group and 63.63% in dinoprostone group . Although, there was no signicant difference observed in the mode of delivery (p&gt;0.05) and induction to delivery time interval (p&gt;0.05) , maternal and neonatal morbidity between the groups. CONCLUSION- To conclude, Dinoprostone is associated with rapid cervical ripening . Although, mean induction to delivery interval and number of vaginal deliveries were comparable between the groups. Moreover, cost and safety prole of foley catheter makes it comparable or even superior to dinoprostone gel for cervical ripening and induction of labour, especially in developing countries.