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Foley Catheter Versus PGE2 for Labor Induction at Term: a Pilot Study

Phase 4
Suspended
Conditions
Labor Induction
Induced Delivery
Interventions
Device: Induction of labor with Foley catheter
Drug: Induction of labor with PGE2
Registration Number
NCT04780269
Lead Sponsor
Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center
Brief Summary

Induction of labor is one of the most common interventions in obstetrics. In the past decade, the rates of labor induction at term have doubled from approximately 9% to 23% in the United States and from 10% to 20.4% in China. The majority of women undergoing labor induction requires cervical ripening for the unfavorable cervixes. As globally, it is still required to explore an optimal induction method. Foley catheter was among the oldest mechanical approaches, while prostaglandin E2 vaginal suppository (PGE2) one of the most popular pharmacological agents for cervical ripening. There were studies reporting similar cesarean section rates between these two methods. However, there are no randomized control trials (RCTs) with adequate power to compare their frequencies of severe perinatal complications. The investigators aim to compare the effectiveness and safety of Foley catheter versus PGE2 for induction of labor among term pregnant women with an unfavourable cervix.

Detailed Description

The investigators propose a single center, open-label, randomized controlled clinical trial (1:1 treatment ratio) in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center. Women with a term pregnancy, an indication for induction of labor, and a live singleton fetus at cephalic presentation, intact membranes, an unfavorable cervix, no prior cesarean section or contraindication to vaginal delivery, are eligible to participate. After informed consent, they will be randomized to undergo induction of labor by Foley catheter or PGE2.

Our primary outcomes will be (I) a composite of severe perinatal complications and (II) vaginal delivery. Before the formal recruitment of this RCT, a pilot study with a sample size of 200 pregnant women will be performed.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
SUSPENDED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
200
Inclusion Criteria
  • Women scheduled for induction of labor.
  • Women aged ≥ 18 years old
  • ≥ 37 weeks of gestation
  • Live singleton pregnancy in cephalic presentation
  • Intact membranes
  • Cervical Bishop score < 6
  • Informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Contraindications for vaginal delivery.
  • Prior cesarean section
  • Known hypersensitivity for Foley catheter or PGE2
  • Non-reassuring fetal status
  • Lethal fetal congenital anomaly

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Induction of labor with Foley catheterInduction of labor with Foley catheterA Foley catheter will be introduced transcervically in women allocated in this group.
Induction of labor with PGE2Induction of labor with PGE2PGE2 (1mg) will be inserted into the posterior vaginal fornix.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of cases with perinatal complicationsUp to 3 weeks

This primary outcome will be a composite of cases with severe perinatal complications and consists of one or more of the following: need for respiratory support within hours after birth, Apgar score \< 7 at 1 minutes, Apgar score \<7 at 5 minutes, umbilical cord arterial potential of hydrogen (pH ) \< 7.10, birth trauma (including bone fracture, neurologic injury, or retinal hemorrhage), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy or need for therapeutic hypothermia, seizure, pneumonia, meconium aspiration syndrome, neonatal meningitis, neonatal sepsis, infant respiratory distress syndrome, pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum, apnoea, necrotising enterocolitis, clinical diagnosis of asphyxia, intraventricular haemorrhage, perinatal death (fetal or neonatal death occurring during childbirth, or up to 7 completed days after birth) or admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for \>48 hours. Each component of this outcome is described from outcome 3 to outcome 21.

Percentage of vaginal deliveryUp to 1 week

The co-primary outcome is vaginal delivery.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of neonates with Apgar score < 7 at 5 minutesOn the day of delivery

Apgar scores of less than 7 at 5 min

Number of neonates need for respiratory supportUp to 1 week

Respiratory support within hours after birth

Number of neonates with Apgar score < 7 at 1 minutesOn the day of delivery

Apgar scores of less than 7 at 1 min

Number of neonates with umbilical cord arterial pH < 7.10On the day of delivery

An assay of arterial cord blood pH of less than 7.10

Number of neonates with birth traumaUp to 1 week

Birth trama including bone fracture, neurologic injury, or retinal hemorrhage

Number of neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy or need for therapeutic hypothermiaUp to 1 week

Neonates diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy or require therapeutic hypothermia

Number of neonates with seizureUp to 2 weeks

Clinical signs of seizure

Number of neonates with meconium aspiration syndromeUp to 2 week

Diagnosed according to clinical symptoms, blood test and image

Number of neonates with neonatal meningitisUp to 4 weeks

Diagnosed by blood and cerebrospinal fluid test and image

Number of neonates with neonatal sepsisUp to 2 weeks

Diagnosed by clinical symptoms, blood test and bacterial culture

Number of neonates with apnoeaUp to 2 weeks

Clinical diagnosis of apnoea

Number of neonates with necrotising enterocolitisUp to 2 weeks

Diagnosed by clinical symptoms, stool examination and image

Number of neonates with pneumoniaUp to 2 weeks

Pneumonia revealed by physical examination, blood test and image

Number of neonates with infant respiratory distress syndromeUp to 2 weeks

Diagnosed by blood test and image

Number of neonates with infant pneumothorax or pneumomediastinumUp to 2 weeks

Diagnosed by thorax image

Number of neonates with clinical diagnosis of asphyxiaUp to 2 weeks

Clinical diagnosis of neonatal asphyxia

Number of perinatal deathsup to 2 weeks

Fetal or neonatal death occurring during childbirth

Number of neonates with intraventricular hemorrhageUp to 2 week

Intraventricular haemorrhage diagnosed by clinical symptoms and image

Number of neonates admission to the NICU for >48 hoursup to 2 weeks

Length of admission to the NICU for less than 48 hours

Number of cases with maternal secondary outcomesUp to 2 weeks

This secondary outcome will be a composite of maternal complications and consists of one or more of the following: cardio-respiratory arrest, damage to internal organs (bowel, bladder or ureters), postpartum hemorrhage (estimated blood loss \>500 milliliter (mL) in the 24 hours after delivery), hysterectomy for any complications resulting from birth, intensive care admission, uterine rupture: separation of the uterine wall, maternal infection, pulmonary embolism, stroke, maternal satisfaction, maternal death. Each component of this outcome is described from outcome 23 to outcome 33.

Number of mothers with cardio-respiratory arrestUp to 2 weeks

Clinical diagnosis of cardio-respiratory arrest

Number of mothers with damage to internal organsUp to 2 weeks

Damage to internal organs, including bowel, bladder or ureters

Number of mothers with postpartum hemorrhageUp to 1 week

Postpartum hemorrhage is defined as estimated blood loss \>500 mL in the 24 hours after delivery

Number of mothers have hysterectomyUp to 2 weeks

Hysterectomy for any complications resulting from birth

Number of mothers have intensive care admissionUp to 3 weeks

Admission of puerpera to ICU

Number of mothers have uterine ruptureUp to 2 weeks

Uterine rupture refers to separation of the uterine wall

Number of maternal infectionUp to 2 weeks

Maternal infection diagnosed by clinical symptoms, blood test, bacterial culture.

Number of mothers have pulmonary embolismUp to 2 weeks

Diagnosed by clinical symptoms, blood test and image

Number of mothers have strokeUp to 2 weeks

Diagnosed by clinical signs, blood test and cerebral image

Scores of maternal satisfaction with the intervention of labor inductionUp to 2 weeks

Maternal satisfaction will be evaluated by a questionaire consisted of 11 questions scored on a 5-point Likert scale.

Number of maternal deathUp to 2 weeks

Maternal death due to delivery

Number of neonates with hyperbilirubinemiaUp to 2 weeks

Hyperbilirubinemia requiring photo-therapy or exchange transfusion

Number of neonates with hypoglycemiaUp to 2 weeks

Hypoglycemia requiring intravenous therapy

Length of neonatal admission (days)Up to 3 weeks

Length of admission of neonate

Number of neonates with cephalohematomaUp to 2 weeks

Diagnosed by physical examination and image

Number of neonates have shoulder dystociaUp to 1 week

Diagnosed by physical examination and image

Number of neonates have admission to the NICU < 48 hoursUp to 1 week

Admission of neonates to NICU for less than 48 hours

Number of cases with indication of caesarean sectionUp to 1 week

Indication of caesarean section including failure to progress at first stage, failure to progress at second stage, failed instrumental delivery, suspected fetal distress, suspected fetal distress and failure to progress at first stage, suspected fetal distress and failure to progress at second stage, and maternal complications or other

Number of cases with indication of instrumental deliveryUp to 1 week

Indication of instrumental delivery including failure to progress at second stage, suspected fetal distress, suspected fetal distress and failure to progress at second stage, and maternal complications or other

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center

🇨🇳

Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

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