Foley Catheter vs. Foley + Extra-amniotic Saline Infusion for Labor Induction at 41 Weeks and Beyond (FEASI)

November 9, 2026 updated by: Ayşenur Türe, Ankara City Hospital Bilkent

The Effect of Foley Catheter Versus Foley Plus Extra-amniotic Saline Infusion on Bishop Progression, Labor Parameters, and Perinatal Outcomes in Pregnancies at 41 Weeks and Beyond: A Randomized Controlled Trial"

This study is a prospective, randomized controlled trial conducted at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital to compare two mechanical methods for labor induction in post-term pregnancies. The research evaluates the efficacy and safety of a Foley catheter alone versus a Foley catheter combined with extra-amniotic saline infusion (EASI). The study specifically targets primiparous women with a gestational age greater than or equal to 41+0 weeks and an unfavorable cervix, defined as an initial Bishop score less than or equal to 6. The primary objective is to determine the change in the Bishop score within the first 6 hours to identify which method more effectively promotes cervical ripening and successful labor induction.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Background and Rationale: Labor induction is the artificial initiation of contractions before spontaneous labor to achieve vaginal delivery. Mechanical methods, such as the Foley catheter, induce cervical ripening by creating physical pressure and stimulating the local release of prostaglandins. This study aims to provide evidence-based data on whether the addition of a continuous saline infusion (EASI) to the Foley catheter results in shorter labor durations and higher vaginal delivery rates compared to the catheter alone.

Study Design and Population:

  • Design: A prospective, 1:1 randomized controlled clinical trial.
  • Setting: All procedures are conducted under standardized aseptic conditions by trained operators in the delivery unit of Ankara Bilkent City Hospital.
  • Sample Size: Based on a power analysis with an effect size of $d = 0.80$, a total of 60 to 64 participants (30 to 32 per group) will be enrolled to account for potential data loss.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria:

  • Inclusion: Primiparous women , gestational age greater than or equal to 41+0 weeks , singleton pregnancy in cephalic presentation , reactive non-stress test (NST) with a biophysical profile greater than or equal to 8/10 , and a Bishop score less than or equal to 6.
  • Exclusion: Multiple pregnancies , ruptured membranes , previous uterine surgery (e.g., Cesarean section) , placenta previa , fetal growth restriction (IUGR) , or high-risk systemic diseases such as severe heart disease or diabetes.

Study Procedures and Monitoring: Participants are randomly assigned to either the Foley group or the Foley+EASI group. Labor progress is monitored according to standard obstetric protocols. The study monitors several parameters, including the time from induction to active labor, total delivery time, and the mode of delivery.

Outcome Measures:

  • Primary Outcome: Change in the Bishop score recorded 6 hours after induction.
  • Secondary Outcomes: Vaginal delivery rate within 24 hours , Cesarean section rates and indications , maternal infection indicators such as fever greater than or equal to 38°C or chorioamnionitis , and neonatal outcomes including Apgar scores and birth weight.

Statistical Analysis: Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics. Continuous variables will be compared using the Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test , while categorical variables will be evaluated using the Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. A p-value less than 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
64

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Primiparous women (First-time mothers).

Gestational age greater than or equal to 41+0 weeks.

Singleton pregnancy in cephalic presentation.

Unfavorable cervix, defined as a Bishop score less than or equal to 6.

Reactive Non-Stress Test (NST) and a biophysical profile score greater than or equal to 8/10.

Aged greater than or equal to 18 years.

Willingness to provide written informed consent. -

Exclusion Criteria:

Multiple pregnancies (e.g., twins, triplets).

Previous uterine surgery (e.g., prior Cesarean section or myomectomy).

Premature Rupture of Membranes (PROM).

Presence of placenta previa or vasa previa.

Fetal growth restriction (IUGR).

Active genital herpes infection.

Known hypersensitivity to the materials used (e.g., latex allergy if applicable).

Serious maternal systemic diseases (e.g., severe heart disease, uncontrolled diabetes, or preeclampsia).

Fetal anomalies or non-reassuring fetal heart rate patterns.

-

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Foley Catheter + EASI

"Participants in this arm will receive a single-balloon Foley catheter (16-18 French) inserted into the extra-amniotic space through the internal os of the cervix. The balloon will be inflated with 30-50 ml of sterile saline. Additionally, a continuous extra-amniotic saline infusion (EASI) will be administered at a rate of 30 ml/hour to enhance cervical ripening."
Procedure: Foley Catheter with Extra-amniotic Saline Infusion (EASI)

A single-balloon Foley catheter (16-18 French) is inserted through the internal os of the cervix into the extra-amniotic space under aseptic conditions. The balloon is inflated with 30-50 ml of sterile saline. Following placement, a continuous extra-amniotic saline infusion (EASI) is administered through the catheter at a constant rate of 30 ml per hour using an infusion pump. The procedure aims to induce cervical ripening through both mechanical pressure and biochemical stimulation.

Other Names:
  • Extra-amniotic Saline Infusion
  • EASI with Foley Catheter
  • Combined Mechanical Induction
  • Transcervical Saline Infusion
Active Comparator: Foley Catheter Alone

Participants in this arm will receive a single-balloon Foley catheter (16-18 French) inserted into the extra-amniotic space through the internal os of the cervix. The balloon will be inflated with 30-50 ml of sterile saline. No additional saline infusion will be administered. This group serves as the standard mechanical induction control."
Procedure: Foley Catheter Alone

A single-balloon Foley catheter (16-18 French) is inserted through the internal os of the cervix into the extra-amniotic space under aseptic conditions. The balloon is inflated with 30-50 ml of sterile saline. The catheter is then taped to the inner thigh of the patient to maintain tension. No saline infusion is administered in this group. The catheter remains in place until spontaneous expulsion or for a maximum duration of 12 hours.

Other Names:
  • Transcervical Foley Catheter
  • Intrauterine Foley Balloon
  • Mechanical Cervical Ripening
  • Single-balloon Foley Catheter

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Bishop Score (ΔBishop)
Time Frame: From baseline (0 hour) to 6 hours after catheter insertion

The Bishop score is a pre-labor scoring system to assist in predicting whether induction of labor will be required. The score (ranging from 0 to 13) evaluates cervical dilation, effacement, consistency, position, and fetal station. This measure represents the numerical increase in the score after 6 hours of induction.
From baseline (0 hour) to 6 hours after catheter insertion

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Rate of Vaginal Delivery within 24 Hours
Time Frame: Within 24 hours of induction initiation

The percentage of participants who achieved a successful vaginal delivery within the first 24 hours
Within 24 hours of induction initiation
Total Induction to Delivery Duration
Time Frame: From the start of catheter insertion until the birth of the neonate (typically up to 48 hours).

The total time elapsed (in hours) from the beginning of the induction procedure to the actual delivery
From the start of catheter insertion until the birth of the neonate (typically up to 48 hours).
Neonatal Apgar Scores
Time Frame: At 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth.

Evaluation of the newborn's physical condition using the Apgar scoring system (0-10 scale).
At 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Ankara City Hospital Bilkent

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 10, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 10, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 9, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 9, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 9, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • TABED 2-25-1766

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

There is no plan to share individual participant data. The study results will be published in aggregate form in a peer-reviewed journal

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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