Outpatient transcervical Foley balloon trial compares labor induction time and C-section risk against inpatient vaginal misoprostol

Induction of labor is a common obstetric procedure, often initiated when continuing a pregnancy poses risks to the mother or fetus. Current methods, such as vaginal misoprostol or transcervical Foley balloon, typically require inpatient admission, leading to extended hospital stays and increased healthcare costs. There's a clinical need to identify safe and effective outpatient strategies for cervical ripening to potentially reduce the burden on healthcare resources and improve patient experience. This trial explores whether an outpatient approach to transcervical balloon placement can achieve comparable or superior outcomes to traditional inpatient methods.

This randomized controlled trial enrolled 140 pregnant women requiring labor induction for cervical ripening. Participants were randomized to receive either an outpatient transcervical Foley balloon or inpatient intravaginal misoprostol. The study's primary objectives were to compare the time from hospital admission to delivery and the risk of C-section between the two groups. The trial aimed to determine if the outpatient balloon method could decrease the duration of inpatient hospitalization while maintaining safety and efficacy.