Outpatient versus inpatient balloon catheter insertion for labor induction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Outpatient vs inpatient Foley catheter induction of labor in multiparas with unripe cervixes: A randomized trial

“…This finding is consistent with a systematic review and metaanalysis of balloon catheters for labor induction, which concluded that outpatient ripening shortens hospital stay. 16 Our finding is corroborated by trial reports of reductions of 4.3 h, 27 9.6 h, 12 and 10 h 14 on hospital stay with outpatient Foley induction but contrasts with a study report that outpatient cervical ripening in parous women does not shorten the duration of labor ward admission until delivery. 28 A 3-3.5 h shorter time in the hospital may result in significant cost savings.…”

“…[12][13][14][15] A 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis on outpatient versus inpatient balloon catheter insertion for labor induction reports that outpatient priming is safe, shortening hospital stay with a better Bishop score. 16 A 2020 network meta-analysis reports that Foley with prostaglandins compared with Foley catheter alone did not significantly reduce the time to vaginal delivery. 17 A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis of Foley catheter balloon versus dinoprostone insertion for cervical ripening reports no difference in induction to delivery interval and cesarean delivery rates.…”

Out-of-Hospital Cervical Ripening With a Synthetic Hygroscopic Cervical Dilator May Reduce Hospital Costs and Cesarean Sections in the United States—A Cost-Consequence Analysis

“…With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there is an additional incentive to reduce the burden on hospital resourcesand to safely keep patients out of the hospital. Furthermore, publishing on outpatient cervical ripening increased dramatically in 2020 showing a global increase in interest (7,8,16,(35)(36)(37)(38)(39).…”

“…Evidence on the double-balloon catheter is also used for the single-balloon catheter as these were combined in the recent Cochrane review (27). Inpatient vs. outpatient cervical-ripening studies so far report outcomes related to the balloon catheter and we selected meta-analyses covering the most studies (Table 2) (7,8).…”

“…Although Grobman et al reported that it might not increase healthcare resource utilization as expected, providing evidence for decreases in antepartum hospitalization, visits, treatments, and tests; the women in the IOL group spent 6 h longer in the labor and delivery (L&D) unit (6). Implementing an out-of-hospital (outpatient) strategy for cervical ripening has the potential to shorten the time spent in the L&D unit and significantly decrease cesarean sections (7,8).…”