The Renaissance of Transcervical Balloon Catheters for Cervical Ripening and Labour Induction.

ABSTRACT: Due to rising rates of labour induction in industrialised countries, safe and effective methods of induction have once again become a focus of interest and research. Prostaglandins are effective for cervical ripening and induction of uterine contractions. They do, however, cause overstimulation of the uterus in up to 20 % of cases, sometimes causing changes in fetal heart rate. Transcervical balloon catheters provide an alternative to prostaglandins for labour induction and have been used for this purpose for almost 50 years. This induction method has experienced a recent renaissance in clinical practice that is reflected in an annually rising number of publications on its use. Balloon catheters allow gentle ripening of the cervix without causing uterine overstimulation. The two catheters

SUBMITTER: Rath W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4678052 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature