Intracervical Foley balloon catheter for cervical ripening and labor induction: A review

Victoria Greenberg1, Adeeb Khalifeh2

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Christiana Care Health Services, Women's Building, MFM Suite, 4755 Ogletown-Stanton Rd, Suite 1992-1988, Newark, DE 19718.

Seminars in Perinatology
|September 5, 2015
PubMed

Labor induction is a common obstetric practice. Optimal methods of both ripening and induction are debated. This article assesses the intracervical Foley balloon catheter through review of literature, including meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and retrospective data. Discussion includes comparison of Foley balloon catheters to pharmacologic agents, safety profile in various clinical scenarios, and cost-effectiveness.