Induction of Labor With Oxytocin: When Should Oxytocin be Held?
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2011-08-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The investigators propose to perform a prospective randomized control trial to compare the
rate of cesarean delivery in women where Oxytocin (OT) is discontinued once active labor
begins (5 cm dilation) when compared with women where OT is continued at a maintenance level
per the usual protocol.
One study group will follow an oxytocin protocol which is incremental until 5 cm dilation and
then maintained at the same level throughout labor. The second arm will follow an oxytocin
protocol also incremental, but then discontinued once the cervix is 5 cm. The primary outcome
will be the rate of cesarean delivery between the groups. Secondary outcomes to be evaluated
will include duration of the labor, fetal heart rate abnormalities, and frequency of uterine
hyperstimulation, maternal and neonatal outcomes.
As mentioned in the study proposal, the proposed experimental arm is currently not performed
as part of the oxytocin guidelines at the investigators' institution. One study from Israel
suggests no difference in pregnancy outcomes with the proposed use of oxytocin. Although some
providers stop the oxytocin in active labor for their patients, this is not a commonly
performed procedure at the investigators' institution. The investigators are not aware of
other institutions employing the above practice.