Transcervical intrapartum amnioinfusion: a simple and effective technique

To test a simple method of intrapartum amnioinfusion to replace amniotic fluid during labor in cases of prolonged labor and severe variable fetal heart rate decelerations or thick meconium.

We conducted a prospective study of intrapartum amnioinfusion in sixteen consecutive patients. A simple transcervically placed Foley bladder catheter was used for intrauterine infusion of saline solution, while monitoring was performed by external cardiotocography.

In twelve patients, catheter placement was easily performed; the remaining four required stabilization by a mandrel for insertion. Amnioinfusion was effective in ten out of thirteen patients for relief of fetal heart rate anomalies. No complications were observed; all had good neonatal outcome.

In our small, uncontrolled study, this amnioinfusion method proved to be a simple, inexpensive, effective and safe technique for the relief of severe heart rate anomalies in prolonged labor.