Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Pre-induction cervical ripening: transcervical foley catheter versus intravaginal misoprostol.
The object of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the intravaginal Misoprostol and transcervical Foley catheters as pre-induction cervical ripening agents, to estimate the proportion of patients achieving vaginal delivery and to compare the complications of labour and foetal outcome between the two groups. The study was a prospective, randomised study of pregnant women, with singleton pregnancies who presented for antenatal care and delivery at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria. Ninety-nine patients were invited to participate and ninety-six (96) agreed. ⋯ Hyperstimulation was not noticed in any of the patients in either arm of the study groups. Intravaginal Misoprostol is as effective a pre-induction cervical ripening agent as transcervical Foley catheters, with added advantages of shorter duration of cervical ripening, reduced oxytocin requirement for induction of labour and greater acceptability to patients. The incidence of caesarean sections, other labour complications and the foetal outcome were similar with both methods.