How does the Cervical Ripening Balloon work?

In the field of obstetrics and gynecology, cervical ripeness is critical to successful induction and delivery. Cervical Ripening Balloon is a non-drug cervical ripening aid. It is becoming the choice of more and more doctors and pregnant women due to its unique working principle and remarkable clinical effects.

Cervical Ripening Balloon promotes cervical ripening and softening by physical dilation. It consists of two balloons, one inside the uterus and one outside the cervix, connected by a catheter. After these two balloons are filled, they can gently and stably dilate the cervical canal, simulating the compression of the cervix by the fetal head during natural delivery.

The specific working steps are as follows.
Place the balloon: The doctor will insert the CRB catheter into the cervix through the vagina to ensure that the two balloons are located inside the uterus and outside the cervix. Then, normal saline is injected into the balloon through the catheter to gradually fill it.
Mechanical dilation: As the balloons inflate, they exert a gentle mechanical dilation force on the cervical canal. This expansion force not only helps soften the cervical canal, but also stimulates the nerve endings around the internal cervical os and promotes the secretion of endogenous prostaglandins.
Promotes cervical ripening: Prostaglandins are important hormones that play a key role in the birth process. Through the stimulation of CRB, the secretion of endogenous prostaglandins in the cervix increases, which in turn promotes the relaxation of cervical smooth muscle and the degradation of connective tissue, making the cervix softer and easier to dilate.
Inducing uterine contractions: As the cervix matures and softens, CRB can also induce uterine contractions to a certain extent. These contractions are usually gentle and steady, helping to further the labor process.

CRB has several advantages over medical induction of labor. It has few side effects and is suitable for a wider group of pregnant women, including those allergic to prostaglandins or oxytocin, asthma, kidney disease or liver impairment. Secondly, the use of CRB can significantly improve the maturity of the cervix, increase the success rate of vaginal delivery, and reduce the cesarean section rate. In addition, the placement and removal process of CRB is relatively simple and does not require complex equipment and operating skills, making it easy to promote and use it in primary medical institutions.

Cervical Ripening Balloon plays an important role in the field of obstetrics and gynecology with its unique working principle and significant clinical effect. It can promote the ripening and softening of the cervix, and can also induce uterine contractions to a certain extent, providing strong support for pregnant women to have a smooth delivery. With the continuous advancement of medical technology and the accumulation of clinical experience, CRB will be more widely used and promoted in the future.