A Comparison of the Efficacy of Misoprostol Alone and Misoprostol Plus Foley Catheter for Labor Induction in Term Pregnancies

Masoumeh Mirzamoradi, Rezvan Aalami-Harandi, Vahid Shahabi, Raziyeh Jamali, Marziyeh Jamali, Safa Salehi

Abstract

Background and Aim: Induction of labor is a common procedure in midwifery. There are several methods for induction of labor, including administration of medications (eg, misoprostol) and use of mechanical devices (eg, the Foley catheter). Various studies have been performed to compare the efficacy of these methods, but there are conflicting results.

This study compared the effect of the use of misoprostol alone with misoprostol plus Foley catheter in inducing labor.

Materials and Methods: This study included 78 pregnant women at term, and randomized them to receive either misoprostol alone or misoprostol plus the Foley catheter for induction of labor. The Bishop score, duration of the latent and active phases of labor, the Apgar score, and cesarean delivery rate were compared.

Results: Twenty patients in the misoprostol-alone group and 18 patients in the misoprostol plus Foley catheter group had a Bishop score < 6. Nineteen patients in the misoprostol-alone group, and 21 patients in the misoprostol plus Foley catheter group had a Bishop score ≥ 6; however, the difference was not significant (P = .651). The Bishop score, duration of the latent and active phases of labor, the Apgar score, and cesarean delivery rate were the same across both the groups (P > .05).

Conclusion: The use of Foley catheter along with misoprostol did not have significant benefits for cervical ripening, cesarean delivery rate, and birth complications, compared with misoprostol alone.