The purpose of this prospective work is to communicate the experience with preinduction treatment with Folly's
catheter on the Pelvic score (Ps), labor and neonatal outcome in 52 cases in 27 to 34 wg, preterm
premature labor and unfavourable cervix. The first control group consist of 24 pregnancies with the same characteristics but with favourable cervix at the begging of
labor induction and the second control group include 31 cases with spontaneous
premature labor. The Folly's
catheter is introduced through the cervical canal and the bulb inflated with 75 ml of sterile
normal saline. After the Foley's
catheter dropped out the Ps is reassessed and proceed with
oxytocin infusion. In the first control group with favourable cervix the
induction of labor is only with
oxytocin via
infusion pump. More than half of all patients are treated with with
tocolysis. The results show that for the period of
tocolysis and/or
PPROM there is significant improvement of the Ps (from 0.90 +/- 0.9 to 2.35 +/- 1.5). The change in the Ps doesn't depend on the g.w., the length of
tocolysis or on the initial Ps. The balloon
catheter improve the Ps from 2.35 +/- 1.5 to 6.24 +/- 1.3 for y period of 3 h 20 min (2 h 40 min to 4 h, 95% confidence). After the Foley
catheter dropped out the duration of labor with
oxytocin infusion is 6 h (5 to 7 h, 95% confidence) and is not different from this in the control groups. The time for the
catheter to drop out, the achieved Ps and especially the effacement of the cervix are essential features in the prognosis of the difficulties in the labor process and the neonate state.