Balloon catheter vs oxytocin alone for induction of labor in women with a previous cesarean section: A randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and maternal-neonatal morbidity between balloon catheter and oxytocin for induction of labor in women with a previous cesarean section and an unfavorable cervix.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This open-label randomized controlled trial took place in seven French hospitals. Inclusion criteria were medical indication for labor induction in pregnant women, ≥37 weeks, with lower segment cesarean section, Bishop score ≤4, no pre-labor rupture of membranes, singleton fetus in cephalic presentation. Women were allocated randomly to induction with a 50-mL balloon catheter for 12 hours or a low-dose oxytocin infusion. Primary outcome was the rate of vaginal birth. Secondary outcomes were maternal and neonatal complications.

RESULTS

The study enrolled 204 women from 26 December 2010 to 31 December 2013: 101 were allocated to receive balloon catheter and 103 to oxytocin. Vaginal birth rate was 50% (n = 51) in the balloon catheter group vs 37% (n = 38) in the oxytocin group (P = 0.050). Maternal and neonatal morbidity did not differ between balloon catheter and oxytocin groups: two uterine dehiscences vs one, one vs four maternal infections, five vs two hemorrhages and 11 vs five neonatal transfers, respectively. Heterogeneity of treatment effect for vaginal delivery was observed across initial Bishop scores. Balloon catheter was more effective for low values of bishop score.

CONCLUSIONS

Balloon catheter tended to be associated with a higher probability of vaginal delivery as compared with low-dose intravenous oxytocin when used for induction of labor in women with a previous cesarean section and low Bishop score at induction.

[Sexual function after transobturator tape procedure for stress urinary incontinence and overall patients' satisfaction]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the quality of sexual activity after a transobturator tape procedure for urinary incontinence and to examine the global satisfaction reported by patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a bicentric retrospective study, postoperative questionnaires were sent to 247 women operated for urinary incontinence by TOT/TVT-O surgery, after 1 year, prolaps were excluded. Patients' overall improvement was assessed using the French version of Patient Global Impression and Improvement (PGI-I), urinary symptoms were assessed with the use of ICIQ-Fluts and quality of sexual function using Lemack and Zimmern questionnaire and ICIQ-Fluts-Sex. A logistic regression analysis was run to analyse the factors associated with women overall improvement.

RESULTS

One hundred and sixty-five patients answered the questionnaire (66.8%). Average age was 55 (±11), and the average postoperative period was 39 months (±17.9). After surgery, according to the

PGI-I

135 women (81.8%) found an overall improvement, 22 (13.4%) found their condition unchanged and 8 (4.8%) women found it worse. Among the 165 women, 118 were sexually active, 37 (31.4%) reported improvement in intercourse satisfaction whereas 11 (9.3%) complained about sexual function deterioration and 70 (59.3%) felt unchanged. The 37 women who reported sexual improvement described decreased coital incontinence in 54% of the cases. Eleven women who felt sexually worse, reported dyspareunia. Results of the logistic regression analysis suggested that overall improvement after surgery depended not only on the incontinence score (OR 0.83) but also on the quality of the postoperative sexual activity (OR 12.96).

CONCLUSION

One third of the women reported improvement of their sexuality after transobturator tape procedure. In fact, global satisfaction after surgery was as related to the improvement of urinary symptoms as it was to the quality of the sexual activity.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

5.

Inverted papilloma of upper urinary tract. Four case reports

As part of urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma, inverted papilloma deserves a particular place owing to its histologic features, rarity and prognosis. These tumors are usually located in the bladder and their location in the upper urinary tract is quite exceptional. This is the reason why we were prompted to report 4 new cases.