Induction of labor using a foley balloon, with and without extra-amniotic saline infusion.

OBJECTIVE: To compare transcervical Foley bulb with and without extra-amniotic saline infusion for induction of labor in patients with an unfavorable cervix. METHODS: Women who presented for induction of labor with Bishop score less than 5 were randomly assigned to receive Foley alone or Foley with extra-amniotic saline infusion for induction of labor. Primary outcome was time from start of induction to vaginal delivery. Secondary outcomes were cesarean delivery rates, incidence of chorioamnionitis, Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes, and adverse events. RESULTS: One hundred forty women completed the study. Time from induction to vaginal delivery was 16.58 (+/- 7.55) hours in the extra-amniotic saline infusion group compared with 21.47 (+/- 9.95) hours in the Foley group (P < .01). Chorioamnionitis occurred in 4 of 66 (6.1%) women in the extra-amniotic saline infusion group compared with 12 of 74 (16.2%) women in the Foley group (P = .067). Cesarean delivery rate was 21.2% versus 20.1% in the extra-amniotic saline infusion and Foley groups, respectively (P = 1.0). Median 1-minute and 5-minute Apgar scores were 9 in both groups. Adverse events were rare and unrelated to method of induction. CONCLUSION: Induction of labor by using Foley with extra-amniotic saline infusion results in shorter induction-to-vaginal-delivery time than Foley alone, without affecting cesarean delivery rates. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-I

Predicting failed trial of labor after primary cesarean delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To apply published scoring systems retrospectively to patients who had undergone a trial of labor after cesarean delivery to estimate whether there was a score at which a trial of labor should be discouraged. METHODS: Patients with 1 previous cesarean delivery who then delivered between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 1998, were studied. An investigator blinded to outcome assigned scores using 3 different scoring systems. Student t test, chi(2), analysis of variance, and receiver operating curve analysis were performed. P <.05 was significant. RESULTS: Seventy-six percent (117/153) of trial of labor patients had a vaginal birth after cesarean delivery. Successful vaginal birth after cesarean delivery patients had significantly different mean scores using all 3 scoring systems, but none of the systems accurately predicted failed trial of labor resulting in cesarean delivery. Unfavorable scores were associated with high rates of major complications. CONCLUSIONS: An unfavorable score predicting a high rate of complications and more failed trials of labor may help in counseling patients considering trial of labor. A better system to predict the success or failure of trial of labor is needed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III