A Retrospective Comparative Study of the Effect of Controlled-Release Dinoprostone Vaginal Delivery System (Propess®) and Mechanical Methods for Cervical Ripening in Nulliparous Women in Late-Term Pregnancy.

Objective: The effects of the controlled-release dinoprostone vaginal delivery system (Propess) and mechanical methods for cervical ripening in nulliparous women in late-term pregnancy were compared retrospectively.

Methods: This retrospective comparative study included 46 nulliparous pregnant women (24 in the Propess group and 22 in the mechanical methods groups) with a low Bishop score (≤1) who needed labor induction at 41 weeks of gestation. The primary outcome was the success rate of cervical ripening (= Bishop score >6 or vaginal delivery) by the next day following the insertion of Propessonly or mechanical cervical dilation only. In the cases in which cervical ripening was unsuccessful, other methods were performed, and the success rate of cervical ripening the day after was compared as the secondary outcome.

Results: As the primary outcome, there was not a significant difference in the success rate of cervical ripening between the Propessand mechanical methods groups (21 vs. 22%, p = 0.88). As for the secondary outcomes, there was not a significant difference in the total success rate of cervical ripening between the two groups (75 (5+13/24) vs. 73 (5+11/22)%, p = 0.86)). Of the unsuccessful cervical ripening cases as secondary outcomes, the Bishop score of all was ≤2 on the second day of hospitalization.

Conclusion: The combined use of Propessand mechanical methods was effective for cervical ripening in nulliparous women with a low Bishop score in late-term pregnancy, regardless of order.