Acute pulmonary oedema following oxytocin administration: a life threatening complication

Babita Ghai1, Anita M Vayjnath, Suman Lal

  • 1All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

Water Intoxication is not a common complication of oxytocin infusion. A 26 years primigravida developed acute onset severe pulmonary oedema in postpartum period to whom oxytocin was infused for the induction of labour and to prevent postpartum haemorrhage. The relative role of oxytocin and of electrolyte-free fluids in the pathogenesis of this problem is discussed.

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