Abstract
Background
The aim of this study was to determine serum oxytocin concentrations following different
regimens of prophylactic oxytocin administration in women undergoing elective caesarean
delivery.
Methods
Thirty healthy pregnant patients were randomized, after clamping of the umbilical
cord, to receive intravenous oxytocin in one of the following groups: G1 (n = 9), 10 IU of oxytocin infused over 30 min (0.33 IU/min); G2 (n = 11), 10 IU of oxytocin infused over 3 min and 45 s (2.67 IU/min); and G3 (n = 10), 80 IU of oxytocin infused over 30 min (2.67 IU/min). Both patient and surgeon were blinded to allocation. Uterine tone was assessed
by surgical palpation. Serum oxytocin concentration was determined by enzyme immunoassay
before anaesthesia (T0) and at 5 (T5), 30 (T30) and 60 (T60) min after the start of
oxytocin infusion.
Results
Serum oxytocin concentrations (mean ± standard error, ng/mL) were not significantly different in the groups at T0 (0.06±0.02,
0.04±0.02 and 0.07±0.04, respectively, P = 0.76), and T60 (0.65±0.26, 0.36±0.26 and 0.69±0.26, respectively, P = 0.58). G3 showed higher concentrations than G1 at T5 (3.65±0.74 versus 0.71±0.27,
P = 0.01) and at T30 (6.19±1.19 versus 1.17±0.37, P < 0.01), and were higher than G2 at T30 (6.19±1.19 versus 0.41±0.2, P < 0.01). Haemodynamic data and uterine tone were considered satisfactory and similar
in all groups. No additional uterotonic agents were needed.
Conclusion
Serum oxytocin measurements made using enzyme immunoassay in healthy pregnant women
undergoing elective caesarean delivery showed that administration of 80 IU oxytocin over 30 min resulted in higher serum oxytocin levels after 5 and 30 min than the two other regimens. The concentrations did not differ between groups
at 60 min.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 06, 2011
Accepted:
March 6,
2011
Footnotes
This work was presented in part at the 41st Annual Meeting of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology, Washington, DC, 2009.
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
