This is a randomized controlled trial investigating the utility of oxytocin administration in the second stage of labor.
Oxytocin is widely used on Labor and Delivery units throughout the world.Laboring patients are most likely to initiate oxytocin in the first stage of labor. Among those who receive oxytocin, first stage initiation is far more common than second stage initiation. The goal of first stage administration is to increase uterine contractility and cause cervical dilation, particularly in patients who have epidural analgesia. Once complete cervical dilation has been achieved, most providers choose to continue oxytocin in the second stage of labor for the theoretic benefit of increased expulsion "power" while pushing. This practice is currently not evidence-based as the limited data thus far suggests no difference in operative deliveries with the use of oxytocin augmentation in general. The benefits and risk of oxytocin continuation in the second stage of labor is unknown. Oxytocin administration is associated with the risk of uterine tachysystole, postpartum hemorrhage,and maternal hyponatremia. These risks call for a closer look at prolonged oxytocin use past the first stage of labor. This is a randomized controlled trial investigating the utility of oxytocin administration in the second stage of labor.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
400
The administration and titration of oxytocin for labor augmentation is per a hospital based protocol. To summarize, oxytocin is initiated intravenously at 2 milliunits/minute and increased by 2 milliunits/minute every 20 minutes until an adequate contraction pattern is attained or a maximum of 40 millunits/minute has been achieved. This protocol for titration and administration will be applied in this study to the oxytocin group. The intravenous pumps on Labor and Delivery have automated functions for intravenous administration of oxytocin that is milliunit-based and the same routine pumps will be used in this study. The study bag will be administered per current oxytocin protocol. Since patients will already be on oxytocin at time of randomization, their current bag of oxytocin will be continued by the primary provider at a rate of their discretion.
Patients will have their oxytocin discontinued in the second stage of labor. The patient will receive routine maintenance IV fluids per the discretion of the provider.
Barnes Jewish Hospital
St Louis, Missouri, United States
RECRUITINGSecond stage duration
Time interval from complete cervical dilation to delivery of fetus
Time frame: During admission for delivery
Rate of operative delivery
Rate of cesarean section and operative vaginal delivery including forcep or vacuum
Time frame: During admision for delivery
Rate of Postpartum hemorrhage
Estimated blood loss \>500 mL for vaginal delivery and \>1000 mL for cesarean delivery
Time frame: During admission for delivery
Estimated blood loss
Estimated blood loss at time of delivery (mL)
Time frame: During admission for delivery
Rate of chorioamnionitis during the second stage of labor
Chorioamnionitis diagnosed at discretion of primary provider during the second stage of labor
Time frame: During admission for delivery
Rate of endometritis
Postpartum endometritis as diagnosed by primary provider
Time frame: During admission for delivery
Rate of severe perineal laceration
3rd or 4th degree perineal laceration
Time frame: During admission for delivery
Rate of composite neonatal morbidity
1 or more of the following: death, birth injury, umbilical artery acidosis, respiratory distress, transient tachypnea, meconium aspiration with pulmonary hypertension, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, hypoglycemia, hypothermia treatment, or suspected neonatal sepsis.
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Time frame: During admission for delivery