Intracervical Foley catheter balloon vs. prostaglandin in preinduction cervical ripening. 
The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of the intracervical Foley balloon catheter and 3 mg prostaglandin E(2) tablet(s) in preinduction cervical ripening.  Ninety women referred to the maternity clinic for induction of labor with a Bishop score of less than or equal to 5 were randomized to receive an intracervical Foley catheter or prostaglandin E(2) tablets.  The primary measured outcome was ripening of the cervix as measured with the Bishop score.  There were no differences in mean Bishop scores between the prostaglandin and the Foley catheter groups.  Bishop scores (mean+/-S.D.) after ripening were 6.6+/-0.80 and 6.7+/-0.86 for the Foley catheter and prostaglandin groups, respectively (P=0.54).  The Foley catheter group showed a statistically shorter time to ripening compared with the prostaglandin group (3.4+/-2.1 and 6.5+/-3.2 h, respectively (P=0.001).  There was no statistically significant difference in induction time (4.8+/-1.8 h and 5.3+/-2.4 h, respectively (P=0.36).  There are no differences in preinduction cervical ripening efficacy between prostaglandin E(2) and the Foley catheter, but the Foley catheter has the advantage of ripening an unfavorable cervix in a shorter time.