Critical appraisal of currently used oxytocin regimen and prospects

About half a century passed since synthetic oxytocin use to induce or augment labour came in to clinical practice; however, so far there is no international consensus on the dose regimen. In most studies, high dose regimen and long increment interval were found to have much desirable obstetric outcomes (short induction-to-delivery time, low caesarean section rate, less fetal and maternal risk). Although different centres use different starting and increment dose regimen, the stepwise increment till the maximum dose achieved (20 mu/min for low-dose and 42 mu/ min for high dose regimen) is the common feature. The oxytocin regimen practiced in Ethiopia is unique: different regimen is used for nulliparas and multiparas; half dose of induction is for augmentation; the maximum dose achieved at the middle of the cycle is nearly twice (74.3-85.4 mu/min) the maximum dose other centres use (42 mu/ min). Dose increment is also so bizarre and swinging. The maximum dose achieved at the middle of the three cycles is not maintained In general, to the best of author's accessible resources, the origin of this regimen is not clear and can not be traced to any scientific literature. Therefore, easily applicable regimen for Ethiopian set up is presented for clinical trail.