Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 16, 2025
External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?
Published on: June 6, 2020
[Retrospective comparison of effectiveness of balloon catheter versus dinoprostone for cervical ripening]
M Baumont1, M Dap1, C Schweizer2
1Service de gynécologie-obstétrique, CHRU de Nancy, 10, avenue du Docteur-Heydenreich, 54000 Nancy, France.
Objective:
To compare the effectiveness and the safety of cervical ripening between two methods: the Cook double balloon catheter and the dinoprostone pessary (Propess 10mg).
Methods:
We performed a retrospective comparative study in a French maternity. We analyzed 404 women with induction of labour after 37 gestational weeks, with singleton cephalic live fetus, unscarred uterus, unruptured membranes, and Bishop score<6. The primary endpoint was the time between the start of the ripening and the delivery. Secondary endpoints include effectiveness and safety outcomes of the methods.
Results:
Compared to dinoprostone pessary, the balloon catheter was associated with a longer time to delivery (34.4±16.5 vs 25.5±15.3h; P<0.001). This difference is found in both primiparous and multiparous women. Balloon catheter is also associated with a smaller improvement of the Bishop score (2.5±2.1 vs 4.2±2.9 Bishop's points; P<0.001) and more failure to achieve delivery in 24h (32.3% vs 56.7%; P<0.001). There was no difference in mother and fetal safety.
Conclusion:
In this retrospective study, cervical ripening using balloon catheter seems to lengthen the induction of labour. No difference in safety outcomes with dinoprostone was found.
