BALLOON CATHETER WITH EXTRAAMNIOTIC SALINE INSTILLATION - A METHOD OFINDUCTION IN PREGNANCIES AT 41 OR MORE GESTATIONAL WEEKS

One hundred five women with a documented pregnancy of 31 weeks' gestat ion or more, admitted for induction of labour by balloon catheter with extra-amniotic saline instillation, were retrospectively compared to 196 women admitted in spontaneous labour at the same gestational age, with regard to mode of delivery. The success rate of the induction gro up was 97.1%. The mode of delivery did not differ significantly betwee n the 2 groups. The Caesarean section rates were 11.4% in the inductio n group versus 9.7% in the spontaneous group. The mode of delivery aft er induction of labour by balloon catheter with extra-amniotic saline instillation and simultaneously commenced intravenous oxytocin infusio n, in pregnancies of 41 weeks or more, is similar to that of spontaneo us deliveries at the same gestational age.