Information for the public

Benefits and risks

Benefits and risks

When NICE looked at the evidence, it decided that there wasn't enough information about how well the procedure works or how safe it is. The study that NICE looked at involved a total of 174 women, including 50 who had the procedure.

Generally, the study showed the following benefits for women who had the procedure:

  • no deaths

  • quicker delivery of the baby

  • shorter time to finish the caesarean section

  • fewer caesarean section cuts that needed to be enlarged (causing longer operating time, blood loss, or damage to arteries or other organs)

  • fewer blood transfusions

  • less blood loss of more than 1 litre.

The benefits for the babies of mothers who had the procedure were:

  • no deaths

  • fewer babies kept in intensive care for more than 24 hours

  • no babies needed a breathing tube inserting

  • no injury or infection in babies.

Slightly more babies of women who had the procedure (4%) did not do as well 5 minutes after birth (an Apgar score of less than 3) as the babies of women who did not have the procedure (3%). Seizures were reported in 2% of babies in each group, no details were given.

The study did not report any risks of using the balloon device.

NICE was also told about another possible risk: rupture, or tearing of the womb.

If you want to know more about the studies, see the guidance. Ask your health professional to explain anything you don't understand.

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