Outpatient Foley catheter cervical ripening aims to reduce hospital time and costs for labor induction

Labor induction is a common obstetric procedure aimed at stimulating uterine contractions to achieve vaginal birth before spontaneous labor begins. A crucial prerequisite for successful induction is cervical ripening, a process that physically softens and dilates the cervix, the lower part of the uterus. Effective ripening significantly shortens the overall duration of labor and reduces the need for subsequent interventions. Among various pharmacologic and mechanical methods, mechanical dilation using a small balloon, such as a Foley catheter, stands out as a widely adopted, safe, cost-effective, and efficient technique. Despite its efficacy, cervical ripening is almost universally performed in inpatient hospital settings. This conventional approach contributes to extended hospital stays and increased healthcare costs. This study directly addresses this operational gap by investigating the feasibility and benefits of transitioning Foley catheter cervical ripening from an inpatient to an outpatient model.

This randomized controlled trial enrolled 129 women undergoing induction of labor at term. The study compared two distinct protocols for cervical ripening: outpatient transcervical Foley catheter placement versus inpatient transcervical Foley catheter placement. Participants were randomized to receive the mechanical dilation device either at home or within the hospital setting. The primary endpoints for this investigation were the total length and associated cost of inpatient hospitalization, with secondary assessments including patient satisfaction. The study's design aimed to rigorously evaluate the impact of the outpatient approach on these critical metrics, specifically anticipating improvements in efficiency, resource utilization, and overall patient experience.