Continuation versus Discontinuation of Oxytocin Infusion during the Active Phase of Labour: A Double Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Oxytocin is one of the most important medications used in obstetric practice for the induction and augmentation of labor. Despite the intensive use of oxytocin, relatively few studies have focused on the duration of oxytocin administration in labor (Diven et al., 2012). The duration of oxytocin infusion during induction of labor and outcome of different proposed protocols is investigated by Etty Daniel Speigel and published in 2004 and concluded that "There is no advantage in continuing oxytocin infusion after the onset of active labor."﴾Etty Daniel-Spiegel et al., 2004﴿. Ustunyurt et al. in 2007 investigated the effects of discontinuing oxytocin infusion on labor outcomes once the active stage of labor was established and concluded that "Discontinuing oxytocin infusion once the active stage of labor is established may be an alternative protocol in developing countries where the conditions for fetal monitoring and emergency cesarean section are less available". Oxytocin was added to the list of high-alert medications designated by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), a distinction reserved to only 11 other specific drugs. Such drugs are defined as those “bearing a heightened risk of harm when they are used in error” and that may “require special safeguards to reduce the risk of error.” (ISMP, 2008).