| pubmed-article:4452929 | pubmed:otherAbstract | PIP: This study evaluates the efficacy of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) as an oxytocic agent for the augmentation of delay in labor in 40 consecutive patients matched with another group of 40 patients (treated with intravenous oxytocin) as to age, parity, maturity, cervical dilation at time of augmentation, and analgesia. Delay in labor was diagnosed clinically when there was arrest in the descent of the presenting part and/or arrest of dilatation of the cervix. All patients were continuously monitored by means of a presenting part electrode and an intrauterine pressure catheter. Both oxytocin and PGE2 were administered via a constant infusion Palmer pump. Standard dosage increments were used until adequate contractions were achieved and no deleterious effect on the fetus was observed. 0.75 ml of 1 mg/ml ampoule of PGE2 in ethanol was diluted in 500 ml normal saline. Initial rate of infusion was 0.285 mcg/minute for a minimum of 30 minutes; the dose was subsequently doubled at intervals of 1 hour until adequate contractions were achieved. Initial rate for infusion for oxytocin was 2mu/minute; the dose was doubled every hour until adequate contractions were noted. Further cervical dilatation and descent of the presenting part occurred in all cases. Mean Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes respectively were 7.53 and 9.50 for the PG group, and 6.93 and 9.18 for the oxytocin group. No perinatal deaths occurred. Mean birthweight was 3.34 kg for the PG group and 3.39 kg for the oxytocin group. The oxytocin group exhibited significantly higher augmentation/delivery interval (7.32 hours vs. 5.2 for the PG group, p 0.001), mean basal uterine tone (13.23 vs. 7.38, p 0.001), mean frequency of contraction (4.39 vs. 3.61, p 0.01), and incidence of side effects (nausea, vomiting, and pyrexia). A fetal heart rate of less than 100 beats/minute was seen in 3 patients in the PG group and 7 in the oxytocin group. | lld:pubmed |
