Obstetrics: Original ResearchComparison of single-balloon with double-ballon transcervical catheters and the incidence of altered fetal presentationJoshua Lupton, DO, Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, Wy..
Obstetrics: Original ResearchComparison of single-balloon with double-ballon transcervical catheters and the incidence of altered fetal presentationJoshua Lupton, DO, Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, Wyandotte MIOBJECTIVE: To determine whether double-balloon transcervical catheters used for cervical ripening are associated with an increased incidence of altered fetal presentation in comparison with single-balloon transcervical catheters. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective study of women who had received either a single-balloon transcervical catheter (foley catheter) or a double-balloon transcervical catheter (Cook cervical ripening balloon, Cook Medical) for cervical ripening between August 2013 and December 2017 in a single healthcare system (Henry Ford Healthcare) consisting of three different hospitals. 1378 women received mechanical ripening with the type of balloon catheter used being recorded as either Foley catheter (n = 775) or Cook catheter (n = 603). All fetuses were sonographically confirmed to be in cephalic presentation prior to cervical ripening. Maternal age and BMI, amniotic fluid index, neonatal birth weight, fetal presentation, and mode of delivery were recorded. An a priori power analysis was performed using 80 percent power to detect a 5 percent difference between the two catheter types. Categorical data were summarized as counts and percentages, and numerical/continuous data as means with corresponding standard deviations. Between-group mean differences were compared by calculating t-tests for independent measures. Categorical data were compared using the chi-square test for association or Fisher’s exact test. Throughout this study, a p-value