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Low-dose versus high-dose oxytocin augmentation of labor--a randomized trial
E M Xenakis1, O Langer, J M Piper
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 78284-7836, USA.
Objective:
Our purpose was to compare the efficacy and safety of low-dose versus high-dose oxytocin regimens in the augmentation of labor.
Study Design:
Three hundred ten term pregnancies requiring augmentation of labor underwent randomization to receive either a low-dose or high-dose oxytocin augmentation regimen. Maternal demographics, labor-delivery data, and neonatal outcome were compared.
Results:
The high-dose oxytocin group had a significantly lower cesarean section rate, regardless of parity (10.4% vs 25.7%, p < 0.001), with no differences in maternal complications and neonatal outcomes. The time needed to correct the labor abnormality was also significantly decreased (1.24 +/- 1.4 hours vs 3.12 +/- 1.6 hours, p < 0.001) in the high-dose group.
Conclusions:
The use of high-dose oxytocin regimen benefits both nulliparous and multiparous women requiring labor augmentation by significantly lowering both the time necessary to correct the labor abnormality and the need for cesarean section.