Comparison of the Use of Foley Catheter Traction for Cervical Preparation in Prolonged Pregnancy Outpatients and Admissions

Backgrounds: Induction of labor is indicated when the benefits either mother or fetus outweigh those of pregnancy continuation. One of the most common indications is pregnancy. For this purpose, various methods, such as mechanical and pharmaceutical, or the combination of these two, are used.Material and Method: In a case-control study, pregnant women with gestational age greater than 41 weeks were devided to two outpatients and admissions. For both groups under sterile conditions, Foley catheter number 16 was inserted into the cervix and reassuring heartbeat monitoring of the fetus was performed. The outpatient group was sent home after 30 minutes. The other group was admitted and received 25 μg vaginal Misoprostol at the same time and every 4 hours. Oxytocin was given as needed. The outpatients was admitted after the catheter expulsion or 12 hours later. Similar to the admission group, they received misoprostol and oxytocin. Foley catheter's expulsion time, delivery time, dosage requirements for Misoprostol, and the need for oxytocin, cesarean section and postpartum fever were determined in two groups. Result:112 in the outpatient group and 119 in the admission group were enrolled. The excretion time of catheter in the admission group was significantly higher.(p-value = 0.046)The need for misoprostol as well as oxytocin was significantly lower in the outpatient group. Cesarean section and postpartum fever were not significantly different in two groups.Conclusion: The placement of a foley catheter in the cervix, in an outpatient setting for termination of pregnancy in prolonged pregnancies, reduces the foley expulsion time and the need for misoprostol and oxytocin and hospital stay and costs