The effect of double-balloon cervical ripening catheter on cervical shortening rates in nulliparous and multiparous women

Purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of double balloon catheter (Cook® cervical ripening balloon, Bloomington, IN, USA) on the rate of cervical shortening in nulliparous and multiparous patient groups. This prospective study included women who applied for labour induction between 37 and 42 completed weeks of gestation at Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Women were divided into two groups: nulliparous (n:23), and multiparous (n:23). Cervical length was measured before the application of double-balloon catheter and thereafter every two hours by transvaginal ultrasonography until the double balloon catheter spontaneously expulsed. The primary outcome of the study was cervical shortening rate of the women until the expulsion of the balloon. Secondary outcomes were duration from induction to balloon expulsion and the duration from balloon expulsion to delivery. Demographic characteristics were comparable. Cervical shortening rates was not different between nulliparous and multiparous women (0.19 ± 0.21 cm/h vs. 0.26 ± 0.21 cm/h respectively, p > 0.05). Duration from induction to balloon expulsion was significantly shorter in the multiparous women (593 ± 210 min vs. 319 ± 129 min.; p = 0.049). The duration of balloon expulsion to delivery was similar between two groups (696 ± 225 min vs. 506 ± 210 min; p > 0.05). Our study demonstrated that cervical shortening time in women with labour induced by double-balloon catheter is not different between multiparous and nulliparous women.