Transcervical foley catheter for preinduction cervical ripening in an outpatient versus inpatient setting

OBJECTIVE: To compare use of the Foley catheter for preinduction cervical r ipening in an inpatient versus outpatient setting. METHODS. A randomized trial was conducted from May 1998 to December 1999. W omen with a term gestation in the vertex presentation, a reactive nonstress test, an amniotic fluid index above the fifth percentile, and a Bishop sco re of no more than 5 were included. The primary outcome variable was a chan ge in Bishop score. A Foley catheter with a 30-mL balloon was placed throug h the cervix on gentle traction in each group. The outpatient group was the n discharged home with written instructions and returned in the morning for induction. The inpatient group was admitted to labor and delivery, with in duction started upon extrusion of the Foley. RESULTS: Sixty-one women were randomized into the outpatient group, and 50 women into the inpatient group. Maternal age, gravidity, previous cesarean delivery, and gestational age did not differ between the groups. The median Bishop score at entry was 3.0 for each group (P = .97). The mean change in Bishop scores after catheter placement was not different between the inpat ient and outpatient groups (3.0 versus 3.0; P = .74). The maximum dose of o xytocin, time of oxytocin, epidural. rate, induction time, 1-minute and 5-m inute Apgar scores, and cord pH were not significantly different. The outpa tient group on average avoided 9.6 hours of hospitalization. There were no adverse events or maternal morbidity in either group. CONCLUSIONS: The Foley bulb is as effective in the outpatient as the inpati ent setting for preinduction cervical ripening. (Obstet Gynecol 2001;98:751 -6. (C) 2001 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists).