Oxytocin plus foley catheter versus misoprostol plus foley catheter on cervical preparation in prolonged pregnancies

The success of labor induction depends on the condition of the cervix at the time of delivery. This study examines the effect of labor induction with an intra-cervical Foley catheter and oxytocin compared to a Foley catheter and misoprostol on cervical preparation and delivery rate in the first 24 hours after induction.

In a randomized clinical study, pregnant women with a singleton pregnancy and a gestational age of more than 40 weeks, with a Bishop score less than 4 and an intact amniotic sac referred to Umm al-Binin Hospital in Mashhad from 2017 to 2018 were included in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups of Foley catheter and oxytocin (1) or Foley catheter and misoprostol (2). In the first group, immediately after placing the Foley catheter; Oxytocin was started with a dose of 2 milliunits per minute, and every 20 minutes, 2 milliunits were added to reach the maximum dose of 30 milliunits per minute (induction method with a low dose). In the second group, after Foley catheter insertion, sublingual misoprostol was prescribed at a dose of 25 micrograms every 4 hours up to a maximum of 6 doses.

74 pregnant women were randomly evaluated in two groups of 37 people. There is no statistically significant difference in the demographic variables in the two groups. There was a significant difference in the labor rate in the first 24 hours, and it was higher in the oxytocin group (P=0.009). Bishop's score after 24 hours of induction was not significantly different in the two groups. Reaching the active phase was significantly shorter in the oxytocin group. (P=0.01). The time of catheter removal in both groups and the rate of cesarean section and the occurrence of complications were the same in both groups.

The use of oxytocin with a Foley catheter inside the cervix can accelerate the preparation of the cervix and increase the chance of labor in the first 24 hours, but it does not affect labor complications.