title: Is transcervical Foley catheter actually slower than prostaglandins in ripening the cervix? A randomized study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether the maximum time for cervical ripening (from 24-12 hours) would influence the efficacy of a transcervical Foley catheter and to compare efficacy to that of a prostaglandin E(2) vaginal insert.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred ninety-seven women were assigned randomly to (1) Foley catheter left in place for a maximum of 24 hours, (2) Foley catheter left in place for a maximum of 12 hours, or (3) prostaglandin E(2) controlled-release vaginal insert. Primary outcome was vaginal delivery within 24 hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in vaginal delivery rates. The proportion of women who achieved vaginal delivery in 24 hours was lower in the 24-hour Foley catheter group than in the other 2 groups (24-hour Foley catheter, 21.0%; 12-hour Foley catheter, 59.8%; vaginal prostaglandin E(2), 48.5%; P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cutting the ripening time with a Foley catheter by one-half increases the proportion of women who deliver vaginally within 24 hours and yields efficacy similar to that of prostaglandin E(2) vaginal insert.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy. antonellacromi@libero.it
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cromi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghezzi
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agosti
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serati
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uccella
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arlant
authors.forename: Pierfrancesco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bolis
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization; D057785:Catheters; D020070:Cervical Ripening; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010120:Oxytocics; D015232:Dinoprostone