The oxytocin challenge test in the prognosis of high-risk labor

In of 707 pregnant women in the last five weeks of pregnancy a total of 1025 Oxytocin-Challenge Tests (OCT) were performed. Perinatal mortality in the toral material was 16,8% crude and 14,2% corrected. The results of the test were classified into three patterns: normal, borderline (or prepathological) and pathological. The main characteristics of these three patterns are described. Normal OCT was found in 84.9% of the tests and 83,7% of the cases. Borderline OCT was present in 8% of the tests and 7,7% of the cases. Finally pathological profiles were present in 7% and 8,4% respectively. The results of the OCT were compared with the perinatal mortality in the three groups and with the percentage of fetal distress intra partum. It is concluded that the OCT is perhaps the most accurate method to ascertain acute placental insufficiency pre partum. Even the more controversial borderline cases, have a clinical significance.