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Standard- or high-dose oxytocin for nulliparous women with confirmed delay in labour : quantitative and qualitative results from a pilot randomised controlled trial

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Kenyon, S., Armstrong, Natalie, Johnston, T., Walkinshaw, S., Petrou, Stavros, Howman, A., Cheed, V., Markham, C., McNicol, S., Willars, J. and Waugh, J. (2013) Standard- or high-dose oxytocin for nulliparous women with confirmed delay in labour : quantitative and qualitative results from a pilot randomised controlled trial. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 120 (11). pp. 1403-1412. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.12331

Research output not available from this repository, contact author.
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.12331

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Abstract

Objective

Evidence suggests that a high dose of oxytocin for nulliparous women at 37-42 weeks of gestation with confirmed delay in labour increases spontaneous vaginal birth. We undertook a pilot study to test the feasibility of this treatment.

Design

Pilot double-blind randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Three teaching hospitals in the UK.

Population

A total of 94 consenting nulliparous women at term with confirmed delay in labour were recruited, and 18 were interviewed.

Methods

Women were assigned to either a standard (2 mU/min, increasing every 30 minutes to 32 mU/minute) or a high-dose regimen (4 mU/minute, increasing every 30 minutes to 64 mU/minutes) oxytocin by computer-generated randomisation. Simple descriptive statistics were used, as the sample size was insufficient to evaluate clinical outcomes. The constant comparative method was used to analyse the interviews.

Main outcome measures

The main outcome measures: number of women eligible; maternal and neonatal birth; safety; maternal psychological outcomes and experiences; health-related quality of life outcomes using validated tools and data on health service resource use; incidence of suspected delay of labour (cervical dilatation of <2 cm after 4 hours, once labour is established); and incidence of confirmed delay of labour (progress of <1 cm on repeat vaginal examination after a period of 2 hours).

Results

We successfully developed systems to recruit eligible women in labour and to collect data. Rates of spontaneous vaginal birth (10/47 versus 12/47, RR 1.2, 95% CI 0.6-2.5) and caesarean section (15/47 versus 17/47, RR 1.1, 95% CI 0.6-2.0) were increased, and rates of instrumental birth were reduced (21/47 versus 17/47, RR 0.8, 95% CI 0.5-1.3). No evidence of increased harm for either mother or baby was found. The incidences of suspected delay (14%) and confirmed delay (11%) in labour were less than anticipated. Of those who did not go on to have delayed labour confirmed, all except one woman gave birth vaginally.

Conclusions

A pilot trial assessing the efficacy of high-dose oxytocin was feasible, but uncertainty remains, highlighting the need for a large definitive trial. The implementation of national guidance of suspected and confirmed delay in labour is likely to reduce intervention.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Clinical Trials Unit
Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences
Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Oxytocin, Labor (Obstetrics), Clinical trials
Journal or Publication Title: BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc
ISSN: 1470-0328
Official Date: October 2013
Dates:
DateEvent
October 2013Published
21 June 2013Available
Volume: 120
Number: 11
Page Range: pp. 1403-1412
DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.12331
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:
Project/Grant IDRIOXX Funder NameFunder ID
PB-PG-0407-13193[NIHR] National Institute for Health Researchhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000272
Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care for Birmingham and Black Country[NIHR] National Institute for Health Researchhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000272
Contributors:
ContributionNameContributor ID
Research GroupHOLDS collaborative group, UNSPECIFIED

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