Is it time to ban oxytocin for poor labour progress?

Walker, Kate F.; Bugg, George

Abstract

Oxytocin causes myometrial contractions and prostaglandin release. It is commonly used as an intervention for women in established labour with slow progress. However recent large randomised trials of oxytocin for this indication have shown no difference in caesarean section rates associated with its use. This may be due to inadequate doses of oxytocin and small randomised studies have suggested high dose oxytocin may indeed reduce caesarean delivery. The results of a high quality large randomised trial of high versus low dose oxytocin for women with slow progress are keenly awaited. There is no evidence to support the concept of turning the oxytocin off once contractions have been established, although this certainly merits further investigation. Recent evidence of contemporary labour patterns indicate that our whole concept of slow progress in labour is fundamentally flawed.

Citation

Walker, K. F., & Bugg, G. (2019). Is it time to ban oxytocin for poor labour progress?. Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, 29(6), 175-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogrm.2019.03.002

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 27, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Apr 1, 2019
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Jun 17, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 2, 2020
• Journal: Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine
• Print ISSN: 1751-7214
• Electronic ISSN: 1879-3622
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 175-176
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogrm.2019.03.002
• Keywords: augmentation; failure to progress; first stage of labour; labour progress; oxytocin; syntocinon
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2198129
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175172141930065X
• Contract Date: Jun 18, 2019