Comparing two methods of stimulating the cervix (neck of the womb) to become ready for childbirth in women who have had one previous Caesarean and are at term in their pregnancy
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN16957529 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN16957529 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | 201882-6559 |
- Submission date
- 14/11/2018
- Registration date
- 30/11/2018
- Last edited
- 27/10/2022
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Pregnancy and Childbirth
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Labour is induced (started artificially) because earlier delivery is consider to be safer than allowing the pregnancy to continue and occasionally for logistical convenience or maternal preference. Induction of labour in women who have had a Caesarean previously is linked to additional risks, including scar rupture and a higher failure rate resulting in a repeat Caesarean. In selected cases after careful consideration and as requested by women, it is considered a safe process when conducted in a well-resourced setting. Following a successful vaginal birth after Caesarean, mother and baby usually do well and future pregnancies are safer.
The standard method of induction of labour when the cervix (neck of the womb) is not favourable (does not show changes needed for birth to occur) is to use prostaglandin (a signalling chemical naturally found in the body) given into the vagina. Prostaglandin softens the cervix and can also cause contractions, triggering labour. Recently, a new preparation of prostaglandin has been developed. This is applied as a vaginal insert containing a reservoir that slowly releases the drug. This means that the prostaglandin is released more gradually compared to vaginal tablet forms where absorption can be too fast leading to intense contractions. If intense contractions are produced, the insert can be easily removed.
Another method is to use physical pressure to stimulate the cervix, rather than a drug. A Foley catheter is a tube with a balloon at one end. The tube is inserted through the cervix so that the balloon is just inside the womb. The balloon is filled with water and the outside section of the tube is taped to the woman's thigh to apply gentle downward pressure. The balloon pressure on the internal opening of the cervix causes softening and opening (ripening) of the cervix, usually without contractions. The Foley catheter is left for 24 hours unless it gets expelled spontaneously or removed for specific medical reasons. Breaking the waters and an oxytocin drip to produce contractions is more often needed in labour induction with the Foley catheter, compared to when prostaglandins are used.
This study aims to compare use of the Foley catheter and dinoprostone (a type of prostaglandin) delivered as a vaginal insert with a reservoir in women with full-term pregnancies who have previously had one Caesarean section. The two methods of labour induction will be compared in terms of the time taken from induction to birth and the mother's satisfaction with the birth process.
Who can participate?
Women at over 37 weeks of pregnancy who have had one previous Caesarean and who need to have labour induced.
What does the study involve?
The women will be randomly allocated to the dinoprostone group or the Foley catheter group. In the dinoprostone group, the vaginal insert will be placed in the vagina. It will be removed if there are any problems or if it is still inside the vagina after 24 hours. For women in the Foley catheter group, the catheter will be inserted and the balloon inflated with 60 ml of water.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Induction of labour after one previous Caesarean can fail to result in vaginal delivery in up to half of women. If it is unsuccessful, then a Caesarean delivery will be needed. There is also a small risk that the previous Caesarean scar can rupture, which would mean that an emergency Caesarean is needed. The vaginal insert can cause uterine (womb) hyperstimulation, which involves very strong and long-lasting contractions or contractions every 2 minutes on average. This can result in problems for the baby or rupture of the womb. If uterine hyperstimulation occurs, the insert must be removed immediately.
Where is the study run from?
University Malaya Medical Centre (Malaysia)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2018 to December 2019
Who is funding the study?
University Malaya
Who is the main contact?
Dr Sivaranjani Sanmugam, ranjini2810@yahoo.com
Contact information
Public
University Malaya Medical Centre
Lembah Pantai
Kuala Lumpur
50603
Malaysia
| Phone | +60126025028 |
|---|---|
| ranjini2810@yahoo.com |
Study information
| Study design | Randomised controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Hospital |
| Study type | Treatment |
| Participant information sheet | ISRCTN16957529_PIS_v1_03Jul2018.pdf |
| Scientific title | Foley catheter compared with dinoprostone sustained-release vaginal insert for labour induction after one previous Caesarean: a randomised trial |
| Study objectives | Transcervical Foley catheter compared to dinoprostone sustained release vaginal insert will result in a shorter induction to delivery interval and higher patient satisfaction with their birth process. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Current ethics approval as of 05/12/2018: 1. National Medical Research Registry (NMRR), 16/11/2018, ref: 44993 2. University Malaya Medical Centre Medical Research Ethics Committee, 15/11/2018, MREC ID:201882-6559 Previous ethics approval: National Medical Research Registry (NMRR), 16/11/2018, ref: 44993 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Induction of labour in term pregnant women with one previous Caesarean delivery |
| Intervention | Current intervention as of 05/12/2018: Term women with one previous Caesarean section and unfavourable cervixes undergoing cervical ripening and induction of labour at term in University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, will be randomised to one of two groups. Women allocated to the Foley group will have a 16G catheter inserted digitally transcervically, or with speculum if digital insertion unsuccessful, according to usual protocol and the balloon will be inflated with 60 ml of water. The Foley catheter will be left for 24 hours if not spontaneously expelled. Women allocated to dinoprostone sustained-release vaginal insert will have the device inserted as per manufacturer’s instructions. The device will be removed at 24 h if not already expelled spontaneously, at membrane rupture, in the event of uterine hyperstimulation syndrome or if not tolerated. Previous intervention: Term women with one previous Caesarean section and unfavourable cervixes undergoing cervical ripening and induction of labour at term in University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, will be randomised to one of two groups. Women allocated to the Foley group will have a 16G catheter inserted digitally transcervically according to usual protocol and the balloon will be inflated with 60 ml of water. Women allocated to dinoprostone sustained release vaginal insert will have the device inserted as per manufacturer’s instructions. The device will be removed at 24 h if not already expelled spontaneously, at membrane rupture, in the event of uterine hyperstimulation syndrome or if not tolerated. |
| Intervention type | Device |
| Pharmaceutical study type(s) | |
| Phase | |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | |
| Primary outcome measure | Current primary outcome measures as of 05/12/2018: 1. Induction to delivery interval assessed using patient medical records and obtained as soon after delivery before discharge 2. Satisfaction of mother with the delivery process using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) Previous primary outcome measures: 1. Induction to delivery interval assessed using patient medical records. 2. Satisfaction of mother with the delivery process using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) |
| Secondary outcome measures | Current secondary outcome measures as of 05/12/2018: Maternal outcomes: 1. Maternal satisfaction with their care since allocation to the intervention until removal or expulsion of induction device using a 10-cm VAS – obtained as soon as possible after removal of catheter/device 2. Mode of delivery (obtained after delivery) 3. Switch over to alternate device (obtained after delivery) 4. Spontaneous rupture of membranes (SROM) or amniotomy: date and time (obtained after delivery) 5. Use of oxytocin for induction or intrapartum augmentation (obtained after delivery) 6. Use of epidural analgesia in labour (obtained after delivery) 7. Estimated delivery blood loss (obtained after delivery) 8. Fever ≥38°C (from induction to patient discharge - obtained after discharge) 9. Major complications (intervention to hospital discharge- obtained after discharge) 10. Major complications (scar rupture, blood transfusion, maternal HDU/ICU admission, hysterectomy, re-laparotomy, others) 11. Uterine hyperstimulation syndrome (in the first 24 hours - obtained after delivery) assessed using blinded assessor 12. Terbutaline use for uterine hyperstimulation (obtained after delivery) Neonatal outcomes: 1. Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes after birth 2. Arterial cord pH 3. Birth weight 4. Neonatal admission All outcomes are assessed using patient medical records. Previous secondary outcome measures: Maternal outcomes: 1. Maternal satisfaction with their care since allocation to the intervention until removal of induction device using a 10-cm VAS – obtained as soon as possible after removal of catheter/device 2. Mode of delivery (obtained after delivery) 3. Switch over to alternate device (obtained after delivery) 4. Spontaneous rupture of membranes (SROM) or amniotomy: date and time (obtained after delivery) 5. Use of oxytocin for intrapartum augmentation (obtained after delivery) 6. Use of epidural analgesia in labour (obtained after delivery) 7. Estimated delivery blood loss (obtained after delivery) 8. Fever ≥38°C (from induction to patient discharge - obtained after discharge) 9. Major complications (intervention to hospital discharge- obtained after discharge) 10. Major complications (scar rupture, blood transfusion, maternal HDU/ICU admission, hysterectomy, re-laparotomy, others) 11. Uterine hyperstimulation syndrome (in the first 24 hours - obtained after delivery) assessed using blinded assessor 12. Terbutaline use (obtained after delivery) Neonatal outcomes: 1. Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes after birth 2. Arterial cord pH 3. Birth weight 4. Neonatal admission All outcomes are assessed using patient medical records. |
| Overall study start date | 03/07/2018 |
| Completion date | 03/06/2019 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Target number of participants | 78 patients needed with 39 on each arm |
| Total final enrolment | 78 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Scheduled induction of labour 2. One previous Caesarean scar 3. Aged 18 years and above 4. Gestational age of >37 weeks at enrolment 5. Unfavourable cervix (Bishop Score ≤5) 6. Reassuring pre-induction fetal cardiotocography (CTG) 7. Cephalic presentation 8. Singleton pregnancy 9. Intact membranes 10. Absence of significant contraction ≥2 in 10 min |
| Key exclusion criteria | Current exclusion criteria as of 05/12/2018: 1. Allergic to latex 2. Allergy or other specific contraindication to dinoprostone 3. Inability to consent 4. Known gross fetal anomaly 5. Grand multiparity (number of pregnancy at or after 22 weeks ≥5) 6. Estimated fetal weight ≤2 kg or ≥4 kg Previous exclusion criteria: 1. Allergic to latex 2. Allergy or other specific contraindication to dinoprostone 3. Inability to consent 4. Known gross fetal anomaly 5. Parity(number of viable pregnancies) ≥5 6. Estimated fetal weight ≤2 kg or ≥4 kg |
| Date of first enrolment | 12/12/2018 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/06/2019 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Malaysia
Study participating centre
Kuala Lumpur
59100
Malaysia
Sponsor information
Government
University Malaya Medical Centre
Lembah Pantai
Kuala Lumpur
59100
Malaysia
| Phone | 03-79494422 |
|---|---|
| pctan@ummc.edu.my | |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/00rzspn62 |
Funders
Funder type
University/education
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 01/10/2019 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Other |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal. |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | version v1 | 03/07/2018 | 30/11/2018 | No | Yes |
| Results article | 23/07/2022 | 27/10/2022 | Yes | No |
Additional files
- ISRCTN16957529_PIS_v1_03Jul2018.pdf
- Uploaded 30/11/2018
Editorial Notes
27/10/2022: Publication reference added.
19/07/2019: Total final enrolment number added.
19/12/2018: Internal review.
05/12/2018: The following changes have been made:
1. The public title has been changed from "Comparing two methods of stimulating the cervix (neck of the womb) to become ready for childbirth in women who have had one previous Caesarean and are at full term in their pregnancy" to "Comparing two methods of stimulating the cervix (neck of the womb) to become ready for childbirth in women who have had one previous Caesarean and are at term in their pregnancy".
2. The scientific title has been changed from "Foley catheter compared with dinoprostone sustained-release vaginal insert for labour induction after one previous Caesarean: A randomised trial" to "Foley catheter compared with dinoprostone controlled-release vaginal insert for labour induction after one previous Caesarean: A randomised trial".
3. The ethics approval field has been changed.
4. The intervention has been changed.
5. The primary outcome measures have been changed.
6. The secondary outcome measures have been changed.
7. The participant exclusion criteria have been changed.
8. The plain English summary has been changed.
9. The recruitment start date has been changed from 01/12/2018 to 12/12/2018.
30/11/2018: The participant information sheet has been uploaded.
