Cervical Ripening for Obese Women: A Randomized, Comparative Effectiveness Trial

Summary

Obese pregnant women (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) are more likely than their normal-weight counterparts to require induction of labor because of increased rates of obstetric complications including pregnancy related hypertensive disorders, diabetes, and prolonged gestations. Several studies have shown that obese women experience increased labor duration and oxytocin needs when compared to normal-weight women. This in turn results in increased rates for unplanned cesarean delivery (CD) as a result of failed induction of labor (IOL), arrest disorders and non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracing, that is dose-dependent with increasing class of obesity. The investigators hypothesize that obese pregnant women and unfavorable cervix (Bishop score ≤ 6), IOL ≥ 24 weeks gestation using the Foley balloon plus vaginal misoprostol will result in reduced cesarean delivery rates when compared to vaginal misoprostol alone.

Timeline

Start

2016-01

Primary completion

2018-06-24

Completion

2018-06-24

Publications

• de Vaan MD, Ten Eikelder ML, Jozwiak M, Palmer KR, Davies-Tuck M, Bloemenkamp KW, Mol BWJ, Boulvain M. Mechanical methods for induction of labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Mar 30;3(3):CD001233. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001233.pub4.
• Viteri OA, Tabsh KK, Alrais MA, Salazar XC, Lopez JM, Fok RY, Chauhan SP, Sibai BM. Transcervical Foley Balloon Plus Vaginal Misoprostol versus Vaginal Misoprostol Alone for Cervical Ripening in Nulliparous Obese Women: A Multicenter, Randomized, Comparative-Effectiveness Trial. Am J Perinatol. 2021 Aug;38(S 01):e123-e128. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1708805. Epub 2020 Apr 16.

Drugs

Indications