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J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod 2020 May 15:101745. Epub 2020 May 15.

CHRU Lille, Clinique d'obstétrique, F-59000, Lille, France; Université de Lille, EA 4489, Environnement périnatal et santé, F-59000, Lille, France.

Objective: To evaluate the use of the intracervical balloon compared with locally applied prostaglandins for cervical ripening for induction in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes.

Methods: Monocentric, retrospective (from 2002 to 2017) observational cohort study of singleton pregnancies complicated by preterm premature rupture of membranes and induced between 34 and 37 weeks. The primary outcome measure was balloon catheter efficiency evaluated by Cesarean section rate. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2020 May 6. Epub 2020 May 6.

Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Massachusetts-Baystate, Springfield, MA. Electronic address:

Background: Trial and meta-analysis data show a reduction in time to delivery for Foley and prostaglandins or Foley and oxytocin versus Foley alone. However, there is scant data for comparison of the two combination methods against each other.

Objectives: To determine whether Foley and prostaglandins or Foley and oxytocin decrease the time to vaginal delivery via network meta-analysis. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020 Apr 15;249:54-58. Epub 2020 Apr 15.

Women - Mother - Child Department, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Objectives: To investigate if tachysystole was associated with an increased risk of cesarean section or unfavorable maternal or neonatal outcomes following induction of labor by misoprostol vaginal inserts.

Study Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 446 women over 37 weeks of gestation admitted for labor induction by misoprostol vaginal inserts between May 2016 and May 2017. Fetal heart rate and uterine activity tracings were assessed for tachysystole, defined as ≥ 6 contractions per 10 min, averaged over a 30-minute window. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020 Apr 4;249:1-6. Epub 2020 Apr 4.

Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia.

Objective: Induction of labor (IOL) typically involves cervical priming in an inpatient setting. Outpatient cervical priming may be a safe and cost-effective alternative. However, little is known about women's preference and the impact of outpatient cervical priming on their healthcare experience. Read More

J Clin Ultrasound 2020 Jun 17;48(5):298-300. Epub 2020 Apr 17.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Arnas Civico Hospital, Palermo, Italy.

Cesarean scar pregnancies are relatively rare. In the first trimester, if the decision is made to terminate the pregnancy, it should be done as soon as possible to avoid complications. We report a successful termination of a live, 6 weeks and 4 days cesarean scar pregnancy using a double-balloon cervical ripening catheter in a patient with two previous cesarean deliveries. Read More

Am J Perinatol 2020 04 16. Epub 2020 Apr 16.

Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UT Health), Houston, Texas.

Objective: Nulliparous obese women are at increased risk of labor induction and cesarean delivery (CD). We sought to determine whether the combination of a transvaginal Foley balloon plus misoprostol prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is superior to misoprostol alone in reducing the risk for CD.

Study Design: We undertook a multicenter, open-label, comparative-effectiveness randomized clinical trial of nulliparous obese women with unfavorable cervix (Bishop's score ≤ 6) undergoing labor induction from January 2016 to June 2018 at three tertiary centers. Read More

Obstet Gynecol 2020 May;135(5):1153-1160

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.

Objective: To evaluate whether removal of a double-balloon device for cervical ripening for 6 compared with 12 hours in women with an unfavorable cervix will result in a shorter time to delivery, similar cervical ripening, and without affecting cesarean delivery rate.

Methods: In a prospective randomized trial, cervical ripening was performed using a double-balloon device. Women were randomized to removal of the device after 6 compared with 12 hours. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2020 Apr 9;20(1):203. Epub 2020 Apr 9.

Global Health and Development, Head, MARCH Research Center and School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.

Background: Induction of labor refers to iatrogenic stimulation of uterine contractions before the onset of spontaneous labor as a therapeutic option when benefits of expeditious delivery outweigh the risks of continuing the pregnancy. This research was to study the prevalence, outcomes and associated factors of labor induction among women delivered at Ayder comprehensive specialized hospital and Mekelle general hospital in Mekelle town, Tigray, North Ethiopia.

Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted on 346 laboring mothers who delivered after induction of labor, from January 1st, to July 31st, 2017. Read More

J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod 2020 Apr 3:101739. Epub 2020 Apr 3.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Health Sciences, Diyarbakır Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the consequences of a trigger by vaginal Dinoprotone on outcome of pregnancies with Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 161 induced IUGR fetuses (35-39 weeks). Consecutive patients who were evaluated formed the basis of the clinical outcomes. Read More

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2020 Apr 3. Epub 2020 Apr 3.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Univesrsity of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Introduction: To investigate the safety of balloon catheter for cervical ripening in women with term pre-labor rupture of membranes (PROM) and to compare the incidence of maternal and neonatal infections in women with PROM and women with intact membranes undergoing cervical ripening with a balloon catheter.

Material And Methods: This retrospective cohort study of 1923 women with term singleton pregnancy and an unfavorable cervix undergoing cervical ripening with a balloon catheter was conducted in Helsinki University Hospital between January 2014 and December 2018. For each case of PROM, two controls were assigned. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2020 Mar 29:1-6. Epub 2020 Mar 29.

Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine and Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA, USA.

To determine the impact of maternal age on the rate of cesarean delivery in women undergoing induction at term. Retrospective cohort study of term singleton gestations in nulliparous women induced for any indication at Lehigh Valley Health Network from July 2010 to July 2013. Exposure of interest was maternal age. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020 May 7;248:58-62. Epub 2020 Mar 7.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Centre Hospitalier de l'Ouest Guyanais, Saint-Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana.

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral mifepristone use for cervical ripening and the initiation of labor in women with normal pregnancies at or beyond term.

Study Design: We conducted a monocentric, prospective, comparative study on the induction of labor in women with an unfavorable cervix after 37 or more weeks of gestation in the Franck Joly Hospital, French Guiana. The immediate induction of labor by mifepristone was compared to expectant management and the induction of labor with routine cervical ripening agents during two consecutive periods. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 03 11;17(6). Epub 2020 Mar 11.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan.

Currently, there is no meta-analysis comparing intravaginal misoprostol plus intracervical Foley catheter versus intravaginal misoprostol alone for term pregnancy without identifying risk factors. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing concurrent intravaginal misoprostol and intracervical Foley catheter versus intravaginal misoprostol alone for cervical ripening. We systematically searched Embase, Pubmed, and Cochrane Collaboration databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing intracervical Foley catheter plus intravaginal misoprostol and intravaginal misoprostol alone using the search terms "Foley", "misoprostol", "cervical ripening", and "induction" up to 29 January 2019. Read More

Arch Gynecol Obstet 2020 Apr 5;301(4):931-940. Epub 2020 Mar 5.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, 42 Boulevard Sérurrier, 75019, Paris, France.

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of cervical ripening by a mechanical method (double-balloon catheter) and a pharmacological method (prostaglandins) in women with one previous cesarean delivery, an unfavorable cervix (Bishop score < 6), and a singleton fetus in cephalic presentation.

Methods: This retrospective study, reviewing the relevant records for the years 2013 through 2017, took place in two French university hospital maternity units. This study included women with one previous cesarean delivery, a liveborn singleton fetus in cephalic presentation, and intact membranes, for whom cervical ripening, with unfavorable cervix (Bishop score < 6) was indicated for medical reasons. Read More

Am J Perinatol 2020 Mar 3. Epub 2020 Mar 3.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Center for Women's Reproductive Health, Birmingham, Alabama.

Objective:  This study aimed to assess whether patient satisfaction differs between women beginning cervical ripening in the outpatient versus inpatient setting.

Study Design:  We performed a planned secondary analysis evaluating patient satisfaction randomized to outpatient versus inpatient cervical ripening. In the original randomized controlled trial, low-risk parous women ≥39 weeks who required cervical ripening for induction and had reassuring fetal heart rate monitoring were included and randomized to inpatient versus outpatient ripening with a transcervical Foley's catheter. Read More

Am J Perinatol 2020 Mar 2. Epub 2020 Mar 2.

School of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Objective:  The aim of study is to compare, in a pilot study, combined dinoprostone vaginal insert and Foley catheter (DVI + Foley) with Foley alone (Foley) for cervical ripening and labor induction at term.

Study Design:  In this open-label pilot randomized controlled trial, women not in labor, with intact membranes, no prior uterine incision, an unfavorable cervix, gestational age ≥37 weeks, and a live, nonanomalous singleton fetus in cephalic presentation were randomly assigned, stratified by parity, to DVI + Foley or Foley. Oxytocin was used in both groups after cervical ripening. Read More

Front Biosci (Landmark Ed) 2020 03 1;25:1433-1461. Epub 2020 Mar 1.

Department of Psychiatry, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland

Women may present with psychiatric disorders during pregnancy, normal labor, following delivery by caesarean section, or in the postpartum period. The accumulating evidence suggests that these disorders may be due to changes in immune responses. During pregnancy complications such as the prolongation of cervical ripening or descent, placental abruption, premature labor, and preeclampsia increase the risk of postpartum psychiatric disorders. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2020 02 27;2:CD000451. Epub 2020 Feb 27.

National University of Ireland Galway, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aras Moyola, Galway, Ireland.

Background: Induction of labour involves stimulating uterine contractions artificially to promote the onset of labour. There are several pharmacological, surgical and mechanical methods used to induce labour. Membrane sweeping is a mechanical technique whereby a clinician inserts one or two fingers into the cervix and using a continuous circular sweeping motion detaches the inferior pole of the membranes from the lower uterine segment. Read More

Obstet Gynecol 2020 Mar;135(3):e138-e148

This Committee Opinion provides guidance on the current uses of hysteroscopy in the office and the operating room for the diagnosis and treatment of intrauterine pathology and the potential associated complications. General considerations for the use of diagnostic and operative hysteroscopy include managing distending media, timing for optimal visualization, and cervical preparations. In premenopausal women with regular menstrual cycles, the optimal timing for diagnostic hysteroscopy is during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle after menstruation. Read More

Obstet Gynecol 2020 Mar;135(3):754-756

This Committee Opinion provides guidance on the current uses of hysteroscopy in the office and the operating room for the diagnosis and treatment of intrauterine pathology and the potential associated complications. General considerations for the use of diagnostic and operative hysteroscopy include managing distending media, timing for optimal visualization, and cervical preparations. In premenopausal women with regular menstrual cycles, the optimal timing for diagnostic hysteroscopy is during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle after menstruation. Read More

Trials 2020 Feb 17;21(1):190. Epub 2020 Feb 17.

Women's Health, Auckland District Health Board, 2 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand.

Background: Approximately one in four pregnant women undergo an induction of labour. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness for mothers and babies of two methods of cervical ripening - inpatient care for women starting induction with vaginal prostaglandin E2 hormones, or allowing women to go home for 18 to 24 h after starting induction with a single-balloon catheter.

Methods/design: This is a multi-centre randomised controlled trial in New Zealand. Read More

Placenta 2020 03 4;92:28-36. Epub 2020 Feb 4.

Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada; Departments of Physiology and University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Term labour is a state of physiological inflammation orchestrated by multiple uterine tissues (both fetal and maternal). This physiological inflammation preceding and accompanying labour onset is characterized by an increase in cytokine and chemokine secretion by the fetal membranes, as well as uterine tissues (i.e. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2020 May 3;83(5):e13228. Epub 2020 Mar 3.

Andrology Unit, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.

Both subsets of MCs including MC (tryptase-positive, chymase-positive) and MC (tryptase-positive, chymase-negative) are present in the testis and epididymis. Increased number of MCs, higher levels of MC-released tryptase in testis and seminal plasma of males with fertility problems, and promoting sperm motility in individuals with oligozoospermia after using MC blockers provide evidence that MCs may play a role in male infertility/subfertility disturbances. MC-released tryptase and histamine contribute to the fibrosis and may disrupt spermatogenesis. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020 Mar 31;246:160-164. Epub 2020 Jan 31.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, TX, USA.

Objective: To evaluate the determinants of vaginal delivery and safety in women undergoing cervical ripening with a synthetic osmotic dilator (Dilapan-S) prior to induction of labor.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of an international multicenter prospective observational study of Dilapan-S for cervical ripening in pregnancies greater than 32 weeks. Data were obtained in a standardized fashion and entered into a centralized electronic data capture system. Read More

Ir J Med Sci 2020 Feb 5. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland.

Background: Cervical membrane sweep is a mechanical method of cervical ripening at term gestation with the aim of avoiding prolonged pregnancy and reducing the need for labour induction for this indication. There is no published data on obstetric outcomes following membrane sweep in an Irish obstetric population or any studies on patient perception/recommendation of membrane sweep in the international literature.

Aims: This study is aimed at determining if cervical membrane sweep at term has an effect on duration of pregnancy and delivery outcome in an Irish population. Read More

J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod 2020 Apr 1;49(4):101699. Epub 2020 Feb 1.

Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux De Paris, Bicêtre Hospital, Department of Gynecology-Obstetrics, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; Université Paris-Saclay, Univ. Paris-Sud, UVSQ, CESP, INSERM, Villejuif, 94807 France.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of prostaglandin in inducing labor in pregnant women with one previous cesarean section. Secondly, to evaluate predictors of successful vaginal delivery in cervical ripening by prostaglandin in these women.

Study Design: This was an observational, retrospective, single-center study conducted in a type 3 maternity unit at Bicêtre University Hospital between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2016. Read More

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2020 May 2;149(2):225-230. Epub 2020 Mar 2.

Department of Pathology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Objective: To compare the safety of keeping an intrauterine Foley catheter for 48 hours versus 24 hours for cervical ripening.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at the De Soysa Hospital for Women, Sri Lanka from April 1 to December 31, 2014 (trial registration: SLCTR/2014/006). Low-risk women with a Bishop score ≤5 at 40 weeks + 5 days of gestation were allocated to either 24-hour (n=107; Group A) or 48-hour (n=94; Group B) groups. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2020 Jan 28. Epub 2020 Jan 28.

Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON. Electronic address:

Objective: This study sought to test the hypothesis that among multiparous women requiring cervical ripening, mechanical ripening with a Foley catheter is more effective than prostaglandin preparations.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of multiparous women with a singleton gestation who required cervical ripening in a single tertiary center from 2014 to 2019. Women who underwent cervical ripening with a Foley catheter (Foley group) were compared with women who underwent cervical ripening using a controlled-release dinoprostone vaginal insert (PGE-CR group) or dinoprostone vaginal gel (PGE-gel group). Read More

BJOG 2020 04 30;127(5):580. Epub 2020 Jan 30.

USA.

Reproduction 2020 Apr;159(4):479-492

Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Maternal lifestyle affects both mother health and pregnancy outcome in humans. Several studies have demonstrated that interventions oriented toward reducing stress and anxiety have positive effects on pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, excessive gestational weight, gestational diabetes and preterm birth. In this work, we showed that the environmental enrichment (EE), defined as a noninvasive and biologically significant stimulus of the sensory pathway combined with voluntary physical activity, prevented preterm birth (PTB) rate by 40% in an inflammatory mouse model induced by the systemic administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Read More

Biol Res Nurs 2020 04 27;22(2):157-168. Epub 2020 Jan 27.

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in the metabolic pathways activated in late-pregnancy serum samples among African American women who went on to have term (≥37 weeks) labor induction requiring high total oxytocin doses to complete first-stage labor compared to those in similar women with low-oxytocin labor inductions.

Study Design: Case-control study ( = 27 women with labor induction with successful cervical ripening: 13 requiring the highest total doses of synthetic oxytocin to progress from 4- to 10-cm cervical dilation and 14 requiring the lowest total doses) with groups balanced on parity and gestational age. Serum samples obtained between 24 and 30 weeks' gestation were analyzed using ultra-high-resolution metabolomics. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol 2020 Jan 23:1-6. Epub 2020 Jan 23.

Asante Academy of Chinese Medicine, London, UK.

A number of studies show that acupuncture may help with labour and delivery. An NHS maternity acupuncture service providing birth preparation acupuncture has assessed its routine hospital maternity annual data from 2014 to 2016 to see what effect it had on labour and delivery outcomes. The data from this service was analysed and women who had birth preparation acupuncture were compared with those who did not receive it. Read More

Med J Islam Repub Iran 2019 28;33:115. Epub 2019 Oct 28.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Akbarabadi Teaching Hospital, Tehran, Iran.

Different methods of cervical ripening and induction of labor have been used in the cases of unfavorable cervix with different levels of success, but no method has been found to be the best option. The purpose of the present study was to find the effects and side effects of three different methods of cervical ripening and induction of labor. These three methods were oral titrated misoprostol, constant dose of oral misoprostol and Foley catheter with extra-amniotic saline infusion. Read More

Trials 2020 Jan 8;21(1):51. Epub 2020 Jan 8.

Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Mother and Children's Hospital, Limoges Regional University Hospitals, 8 Avenue Dominique Larrey, 87000, Limoges, France.

Background: Labor is induced in over 20% of women in France. Prostaglandins, especially intravaginal dinoprostone (Propess®), are widely used to initiate cervical ripening. If labor does not start within 24 h, there is uncertainty about whether to administer a second dinoprostone pessary or to use oxytocin to induce labor in order to achieve a vaginal delivery. Read More

Folia Med Cracov 2019 ;59(4):79-94

Department of Obstertics and Perinatology, Jagiellonian Univeristy Medical College, Krakow, Poland.

Introduction: Induction of labor is an intervention in the obstetrics, which aim is to achieve cervical ripening and stimulate contractions of uterus before beginning of labor. The purpose of our study was to evaluate efficacy of combinations of vaginal misoprostol, intracervical dinoprostone and Foley catheter at term with regard to mode of delivery and rate of emergency C-sections due to birth asphyxia.

Material And Methods: 403 singleton pregnant women, who underwent pharmacological labor induction at term, were reviewed. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020 Feb 28;245:205-209. Epub 2019 Dec 28.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.

Objective: To evaluate factors associated with subgaleal hemorrhage (SGH) severity following attempted vacuum-assisted delivery (VAD).

Study Design: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary medical center. The population comprised parturients who delivered at our medical center during 2009-2018, and who underwent attempted VAD with singleton pregnancies that resulted in neonatal SGH formation. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2019 Dec 30;19(1):529. Epub 2019 Dec 30.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 1403 - 29 Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 2T9, Canada.

Background: To systematically review the literature on clinical interventions that influence vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) rates.

Methods: We searched Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Wiley Cochrane Library, CINAHL via EBSCOhost; and Ovid PsycINFO. Additional studies were identified by searching for clinical trial records, conference proceedings and dissertations. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol 2019 Dec 18:1-5. Epub 2019 Dec 18.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Prolonged pregnancies are associated with foetal and neonatal complications. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of intravaginal isosorbide mononitrate (IMN) for cervical ripening in prolonged pregnancies. 122 pregnant women were recruited. Read More

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2019 Dec 17. Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science (SBUMS), Tehran, Iran.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of outpatient administration of oral hyoscine for cervical ripening.

Methods: In a randomized controlled trial at a university hospital in Tehran between September 2017 and December 2018, 100 primiparous women with singleton pregnancy at 38 -40 gestational weeks and Bishop score of 5 or less were randomized to either routine expectant management (control group) or 10 mg of oral hyoscine twice daily for 1 week, followed by once daily for 1 week (hyoscine group).

Results: Mean ± SD Bishop score in the hyoscine and control groups was, respectively, 1. Read More

Fetal Diagn Ther 2019 Dec 13:1-9. Epub 2019 Dec 13.

Fetal Medicine Unit, Maternal and Child Health and Development Network (Red SAMID-RD12/0026/0016), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, 12 de Octubre Research Institute (imas12), Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain,

Objective: The aim of this work was to identify independent risk factors influencing the achievement of vaginal delivery among women undergoing labor induction for late-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 201 singleton pregnancies with late-onset FGR (diagnosed >32 + 0 weeks) that required labor induction with cervical ripening from 37 + 0 weeks, either with dinoprostone (from 2014 to 2015) or Foley balloon (from 2016 to 2018). Independent factors for successful vaginal delivery were identified. Read More

Semin Perinatol 2020 Mar 23;44(2):151216. Epub 2019 Nov 23.

More than 20% of pregnant women have their labor induced and at least half of them will require cervical ripening due to an unfavorable starting cervical exam. The use of cervical ripening methods has been shown to decrease the risk of cesarean delivery when compared to initiating an induction with oxytocin in women with an unfavorable cervix. However, among the different cervical ripening methods themselves, while there may be differences in time to delivery and differences in the safety profile of different cervical ripening methods, there is no clear evidence that any one cervical ripening method reduces the risk of cesarean compared to another method. Read More

Maedica (Buchar) 2019 Sep;14(3):260-263

Universal Council of Epidemiology (UCE), Tehran, Iran.

Hysteroscopy is a diagnostic and therapeutic modality, while cervical ripening before hysteroscopy is an issue of concern and different agents have been used for this purpose. The goal of this study is to compare the effectiveness of misoprostol and isosorbide mononitrate (IMN) for cervical ripening before hysteroscopy. In this randomized clinical trial, 56 women who were candidates for hysteroscopy were randomly assigned to misoprostol or isosorbide mononitrate groups. Read More

BJOG 2020 04 17;127(5):571-579. Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Mater Health, Queensland, Australia.

Objective: To compare clinical outcomes following induction of labour (IOL) using a balloon catheter and going home, versus prostaglandin (PG) as an inpatient.

Design: Randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Eight Australian maternity hospitals. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020 Jan 21;244:185-189. Epub 2019 Oct 21.

Obstetric and Fetal Medicine Unit, CHRU of Nancy, 10, avenue du Dr Heydenreich, 54000 Nancy, France.

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to assess the induction-to-delivery interval with or without the use of osmotic dilators for induced abortion. As secondary objectives, women outcomes were assessed.

Study Design: This retrospective single-center observational before and after study reviewed records from a university hospital maternity unit from 2002 through 2016 and included all women undergoing abortion for medical reasons at and after 14 weeks of gestation. Read More

Obstet Gynecol 2019 12;134(6):1363

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.

PLoS One 2019 21;14(11):e0215718. Epub 2019 Nov 21.

Department of Infectology and Immunology, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico City, Mexico.

Background: The metabolic activity of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) and the medical use of nitrovasodilatory drugs like isosorbide dinitrate have been shown to be potential inducers inducers of cervical ripening prior to surgical evacuation of the uterus.

Objective: To assess the therapeutic efficacy and safety of combined isosorbide dinitrate-oxytocin in the management of intrauterine foetal death (IUFD).

Methods: Sixty women with IUFD after 20 weeks of gestation requesting uterine evacuation were randomly selected to receive isosorbide dinitrate gel solution (80 mg/1. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2019 Dec 28;243:139-143. Epub 2019 Oct 28.

The Second Department of Obstetrics, Cangzhou Central Hospital, NO.16, Xinhua Road, Yunhe District, Cangzhou 061000, Hebei, China.

Background: In obstetrics, labor induction is a common procedure. It has been proved that both single balloon catheters (Foley's catheter) and double balloon catheters (Cook cervical ripening balloon) are effective and relatively safe in cervical ripening and labor induction. This research aimed to compare the efficacy of single and double balloon catheter in the induction of labor with scarred uterus. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 11 6;9(11):e028896. Epub 2019 Nov 6.

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

Introduction: Labour induction in women with a previous caesarean delivery currently uses vaginal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which carries the risks of uterine hyperstimulation and scar rupture. We aim to compare the efficacy of mechanical labour induction using a transcervically applied Foley catheter balloon (FCB) with PGE2 in affected women attempting trial of labour after caesarean (TOLAC).

Methods And Analysis: This single-centre non-inferiority prospective, randomised, open, blinded-endpoint study conducted at an academic maternity unit in Singapore will recruit a total of 100 women with one previous uncomplicated caesarean section and no contraindications to vaginal delivery. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019 Oct 18;10:CD001233. Epub 2019 Oct 18.

Department of Obstetrics, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, Henri Dunantstraat 1, 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, 5223 GZ.

Background: Mechanical methods were the first methods developed to ripen the cervix and induce labour. During recent decades they have been substituted by pharmacological methods. Potential advantages of mechanical methods, compared with pharmacological methods may include reduction in side effects that could improve neonatal outcomes. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2019 Oct 16;19(1):358. Epub 2019 Oct 16.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China.

Background: The induction of labour is an increasingly common procedure in the obstetrics field. Various methods have been used to induce labour, among which balloon catheters play an important role. Whether the specifically designed double-balloon catheter is better than the single-balloon device in terms of efficacy, efficiency, safety and patient satisfaction remains controversial. Read More