title: Use of Intracervical Foley Catheter for Induction of Labour in Cases of Previous Caesarean Section: Experience of a single tertiary centre in Oman.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate rates of success and perinatal complications of labour induction using an intracervical Foley catheter among women with a previous Caesarean delivery at a tertiary centre in Oman.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective cohort study included 68 pregnant women with a history of a previous Caesarean section who were admitted for induction via Foley catheter between January 2011 and December 2013 to the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. Patient data were collected from electronic and delivery ward records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most women were 25-35 years old (76.5%) and 20 women had had one previous vaginal delivery (29.4%). The most common indication for induction of labour was intrauterine growth restriction with oligohydramnios (27.9%). Most women delivered after 40 gestational weeks (48.5%) and there were no neonatal admissions or complications. The majority experienced no complications during the induction period (85.3%), although a few had vaginal bleeding (5.9%), intrapartum fever (4.4%), rupture of the membranes (2.9%) and cord prolapse shortly after insertion of the Foley catheter (1.5%). However, no cases of uterine rupture or scar dehiscence were noted. Overall, the success rate of vaginal birth after a previous Caesarean delivery was 69.1%, with the remaining patients undergoing an emergency Caesarean section (30.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a Foley catheter in the induction of labour in women with a previous Caesarean delivery appears a safe option with a good success rate and few maternal and fetal complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Hazel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gonsalves
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Nihal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Riyami
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Tamima
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Al-Dughaishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Vaidayanathan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gowri
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine & Public Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Azri
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Ayesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salahuddin
keywords: Catheters; Induced Labor; Oman; Pregnancy Complications; Vaginal Birth after Cesarean