Ks. Wolff et al., BALLOON CATHETER FOR INDUCTION OF LABOR IN NULLIPAROUS WOMEN WITH PRELABOR RUPTURE OF THE MEMBRANES AT TERM, Gynecologic and obstetric investigation, 46(1), 1998, pp. 1-4
The balloon catheter method has been described as an effective method
for cervical ripening hitherto used exclusively before rupture of the
membranes. We found it of interest to perform a pilot study of the bal
loon catheter method after rupture of the membranes. In 18 nulliparous
women, with an unripe cervix (Bishop score less than or equal to 5) 4
8 h after prelabor rupture of the membranes at term, cervical ripening
was performed using a 26-gauge balloon catheter. Seventy six percent
of these women delivered vaginally. Clinical and neonatal outcome data
did not differ as compared with term pregnant women who entered labor
spontaneously or had a ripe cervix (Bishop score >5) and labor induce
d with ocytocin within 48 h after prelabor rupture of the membranes. D
espite visualization of a pool of amniotic fluid in the vagina on spec
ulum examination on admission, there was a high proportion of patients
with an intact forebag observed during the birth process. This prelim
inary report indicates that the balloon catheter method might be a wel
l-tolerated, safe, and effective method for induction of labor after r
upture of the membranes at term.