Cervical Ripening: How Long can the Foley Catheter Safely Remain in the Cervical Canal?

Ekele BA and Isah AY

Abstract

This was a prospective study involving 85 patients admitted for induction of labour with unfavourable cervix at Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. A size 16–20 Foley catheter was passed transcervically into the extra-amniotic space under aseptic technique and the balloon inflated with 30–50mls sterile water. Each patient was placed on prophylactic antibiotics. The balloon was expelled within 12 hours in 22 (39%) patients. Twenty eight patients expelled the balloon in 12–24 hours, 14 in 25–48 hours, 6 in 49–72 hours and 4 after 72 hours. The average duration of catheter placement when the gestational age was 20–27 weeks was 44.8 hours, which was significantly longer than 19.6 hours obtained for term pregnancies (p << 0.05). Induction of labour was successful in 77 (91%) patients and there was no significant maternal morbidity. The results of our study suggest that the balloon of the Foley catheter can safely remain in the extra-amniotic space longer than 24 hours for cervical ripening if the cervix is unfavourable, provided the membranes are intact and the feto-maternal conditions remain satisfactory. (Afr J Reprod Health 2002; 6[3]: 98–102)

Keywords: Catheter balloon, cervical ripening, insertion-expulsion interval

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References

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