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Foley Balloon Study for Cervical Ripening - Cost Comparison Between Outpatient and Inpatient Cervical Ripening

Cost of Inpatient Care for Women Undergoing Outpatient vs. Inpatient Transcervical Balloon Cervical Ripening for Induction of Labor at Term

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05506631
Acronym
Balloon
Enrollment
140
Registered
2022-08-18
Start date
2021-11-01
Completion date
2024-10-30
Last updated
2025-05-31

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Pregnancy Outcome

Keywords

cervical Ripening, Labor, induced, Term Birth

Brief summary

The objective of this study is to determine the impact of outpatient cervical ripening with transcervical balloon placement for induction of labor at term on the length and cost of inpatient hospitalization when compared to inpatient cervical ripening.

Detailed description

The objective of the study is to determine the impact of outpatient cervical ripening with transcervical balloon placement for induction of labor at term on the length and cost of inpatient hospitalization when compared to inpatient cervical ripening. Specific Aims In conducting this study, the investigators will accomplish the following specific aim: To compare the length of inpatient care for women undergoing cervical ripening with a transcervical Foley placed in the outpatient vs. inpatient setting prior to induction of labor. * Primary outcomes of interest * The length of time (measured in minutes) spent on the inpatient unit (L&D) from admission for cervical ripening and/or labor induction until delivery. Outpatient arm: Time for the participants in the outpatient group will be measured from the time the participant is admitted to the hospital for induction of labor until she delivers. Inpatient arm: Time for the participant in the inpatient group will be measured from the time the participant is admitted to the hospital for cervical ripening with balloon placement and induction until she delivers. Time from admission to L&D until delivery = total INPATIENT until delivery (hours) • Cost Analysis Cost/charges will be calculated for the time spent in the outpatient and inpatient unit for both randomization groups. Cost will be based on information obtained from Enterprise Analytics charges for the time each participant spends in outpatient care, inpatient care, hospitalized from admission to the L&D unit to delivery. The investigators will report on the delta/difference in average costs of outpatient and inpatient care between the outpatient and inpatient arms of the study. Information will be obtained from the finance department at LVHN. * Secondary outcomes of interest to be compared by randomization groups include: * maternal outcomes * mode of delivery, chorioamnionitis, endometritis, placental abruption, urinary tract infection, preeclampsia, wound infection, venous thromboembolism, maternal treatment with postpartum antibiotics * neonatal outcomes * neonatal birthweight, Apgar scores, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (ICU), neonatal ICU length of stay, neonatal hypoglycemia, neonatal sepsis, neonatal seizures, meconium aspiration, intubation for respiratory support, neonatal length of stay (total), umbilical cord gas pH, neonatal death or stillbirth * dosing of narcotic medications before regional anesthesia * total oxytocin infusion dosing * total length of stay for mothers and neonates

Interventions

PROCEDUREOutpatient Foley balloon placement

Cervical ripening with balloon placement in the outpatient setting

PROCEDUREInpatient Foley Balloon placement

Cervical ripening with balloon placement in the inpatient setting

Sponsors

Lehigh Valley Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Randomized controlled trial

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 39 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Pregnant women at ≥39 weeks gestation by reliable dating criteria as determined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists * Scheduled induction of labor with indication and timing supported by Lehigh Valley Health Network -Labor and Delivery Units (Cedar Crest & Muhlenberg) * Singleton gestation * Cephalic presentation * Amniotic fluid index normal * Formal prenatal ultrasound during the pregnancy documenting the absence of placenta previa * Bishop score \<6 and cervical dilation \<3cm at the time of decision to induce labor * The woman is able to give appropriate consent and has undergone an informed consent process. * Maternal age ≥ 18 years old at the time of consent * English speaking

Exclusion criteria

* Undergoing outpatient antenatal testing for any medical or obstetric condition * Need for inpatient observation or continuous fetal monitoring during their cervical ripening * New diagnosis requiring immediate hospitalization for monitoring (such as new onset hypertensive disease of pregnancy) * Vaginal bleeding * Active labor * Premature rupture of membranes * Uterine tachysystole (\>5 contractions in 10 minutes) * Non-reassuring fetal heart tracing before Foley placement * Intrauterine fetal demise diagnosed after enrollment and before placement of balloon * Contraindication to vaginal delivery, relative or absolute (i.e. transfundal uterine surgery) * Abnormal placentation including a low lying placenta * Prior cesarean delivery * Known fetal major anomaly * Human immunodeficiency virus, Hepatitis C, or active herpes infection * Maternal cardiopulmonary disease requiring cardiac monitoring during labor * Pregestational diabetes or GDMA2 * Rh isoimmunization * Non-English speaking * BMI \> 40 * Distance from the hospital over 60 minutes by car, unreliable communication via telephone, or unreliable transportation

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The length of time (measured in minutes) spent on the inpatient unit from admission from cervical ripening and/or labor induction until delivery.12 monthsThe length of time (measured in minutes) spent on the inpatient unit (L&D) from admission for cervical ripening and/or labor induction until delivery.
Cost Analysis in dollars Cost/charges will be calculated for the time spent in the outpatient and inpatient unit for both randomization groups.12 monthsCost Analysis in dollars Cost/charges will be calculated for the time spent in the outpatient and inpatient unit for both randomization groups. Cost will be based on information obtained from Enterprise Analytics charges for the time each woman spends in outpatient care, inpatient care, hospitalized from admission to the L&D unit to delivery.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Oxytocin dosing12 monthsOxytocin dose per unit
Maternal length of stay12 monthsMaternal inpatient length of stay in days
Delivery12 monthsMode of Delivery
Maternal state12 monthsMaternal outcomes
Neonatal State12 monthsNeonatal outcomes
Cord PH12 monthsUmbilical cord gas PH as reported
Neonatal adverse events12 monthsNeonatal Adverse events such as: hypoglycemia; sepsis; seizures; meconium aspiration; respiratory failure; death
Birthweight12 monthsneonatal birthweight in kilograms
ICU Length of stay12 monthsneonatal ICU length of stay in days
Total Length of stay12 monthsneonatal Inpatient length of stay in days
Maternal Adverse events12 monthsMaternal Adverse events such as chorioamnionitis; endometritis; placental abruption; urinary tract infection; preeclampsia,; wound infection; venous thromboembolism; need for post partum antibiotics
Narcotic dosing12 monthsMaternal dosing of narcotic medications before regional anesthesia

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026