Does oxytocin augmentation increase perinatal risk in primigravid labor?

To assess the influence of high-dose oxytocin augmentation of spontaneous labor, a consecutive series of 30,874 primigravid term deliveries were analyzed for adverse perinatal outcome. In spite of a longer mean duration of labor, the frequencies of asphyxial perinatal death, neonatal seizures, and a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inAmerican journal of obstetrics and gynecology Vol. 166; no. 3; p. 847
Main Authors Cahill, D J, Boylan, P C, O'Herlihy, C
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.03.1992
Subjects
Asphyxia Neonatorum - chemically induced
Asphyxia Neonatorum - mortality
Female
Fetal Blood - physiology
Hospital Mortality
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Infant, Newborn
Oxytocin - adverse effects
Oxytocin - therapeutic use
Parity
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome
Risk Factors
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:To assess the influence of high-dose oxytocin augmentation of spontaneous labor, a consecutive series of 30,874 primigravid term deliveries were analyzed for adverse perinatal outcome. In spite of a longer mean duration of labor, the frequencies of asphyxial perinatal death, neonatal seizures, and abnormal neonatal neurologic behavior were not significantly increased in 14,119 (45%) oxytocin-treated patients. There was no case of uterine rupture in any primigravid labor during the study. These results from 13 years of clinical practice provide reassurance about maternal and fetal safety if oxytocin is used as part of a protocol of active management to correct dystocia when spontaneous primigravid labor with vertex presentation fails to progress.
ISSN:0002-9378
DOI:10.1016/0002-9378(92)91346-C