Publication:

Use of intracervical Foley catheter for pre-induction cervical ripening in women planned for vaginal birth after previous caesarean section

Background Vaginal birth after previous caesarean section is challenging for obstetricians due to increased risk of uterine rupture. Common methods for labour induction in post caesarean pregnancies are membrane sweeping, balloon catheters, prostaglandins (PGE2), and oxytocin. As currently available data is limited, the evidence of safest method of induction is lacking. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of intra-cervical Foley catheter for pre-induction cervical ripening in women planned for vaginal birth after caesarean section.

Methods This prospective cross-sectional study included 24 pregnant women with a history of previous caesarean section, admitted for induction of labour. Induction was performed in patients with unfavourable modified Bishop Score by intra-cervical Foley catheter. The change in modified Bishop Score, oxytocin requirement, induction-delivery interval, mode of delivery, maternal complications and neonatal outcome were observed.

Results There was significant improvement in modified BS noted at the end of trans-cervical Foley catheter induction and this improvement in mean of modified BS was observed to be statistically significant (p<0.0001). The vaginal delivery rate was 29.2% while 70.8% of patients underwent caesarean section. No significant maternal or foetal complications were observed with Foley catheter induction except for one case of vaginal bleeding. There was no case of intrapartum or postpartum maternal infection.

Conclusions Foley catheter may be a cheap and effective method for pre-induction cervical ripening and induction of labour in patients with previous caesarean section.