title: Sequential use of double-balloon catheter and oral misoprostol versus oral misoprostol alone for induction of labour at term (CRBplus trial): a multicentre, open-label randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of inducing labour using a double-balloon catheter and oral misoprostol sequentially, in comparison with oral misoprostol alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicentre randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hospitals in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 326 pregnant women with an unfavourable cervix undergoing labour induction at term.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women were randomly assigned according to a computer-generated allocation sequence to sequential use of double-balloon catheter and oral misoprostol (study group) or oral misoprostol alone (control group). In the study group, the double-balloon catheter was used the first day before starting oral misoprostol the second day.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measure was the induction-to-delivery interval, and a further outcome parameter was delivery within 48 hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median times for induction of labour until delivery were 32.4 hours in the study group and 22.5 hours in the control group (P = 0.004). This difference was not seen when evaluating according to parity (nulliparous, P = 0.19; parous, P = 0.06). The rate of vaginal delivery within 48 hours did not differ between both groups. The number of applications of misoprostol (two versus three, P < 0.001) and the dose of misoprostol used was lower in the study group (100 versus 200 μg, P < 0.001). In the study group, there were more Apgar scores of <7 at 5 minutes (8 versus 1, P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a double-balloon catheter on the first day, before starting oral misoprostol on the second day, did not improve the induction to delivery interval and the rate of delivery within 48 hours, in comparison with oral misoprostol alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kehl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schleussner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tuschy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berlit
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kirscht
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hägele
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siemer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sütterlin
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D057785:Catheters; D020070:Cervical Ripening; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D016595:Misoprostol; D010120:Oxytocics; D010121:Oxytocin; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010120:Oxytocics; D016595:Misoprostol; D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: Cervical ripening; cervical ripening balloon; double-balloon catheter; induction of labour; misoprostol; sequential use