Study of the Effect of Intraumbilical Vein Oxytocin Injection on Third Stage of Labor

Abstract

Background: The principal management of the third stage of labor is aimed at reducing the time of delivery of the placenta, thereby minimizing serious adverse effects such as blood loss and retained placenta. Umbilical vein oxytocin injection directs treatment to the placental bed and uterine wall, resulting in earlier uterine contraction and placental separation Aim of study: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of intraumbilical vein oxytocin on reducing the duration of the third stage of labor and the need for manual delivery of placenta, in comparison with normal saline administration. Patients and Methods: The present study recruited 300 hundred women indicated for normal labor. They were equally and randomly assigned into one of two groups: GI (the study group) which had intraumbilical oxytocin and GII (control group) which had normal saline infusion. Results: Comparison between the studied groups regarding the demographic data didn't reveal statistically significant differences. In addition, there were no statistically significant differences between the studied groups regarding the obstetrical data. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were found between the studied groups regarding the preoperative Hb levels. There was a statistically significant higher blood loss in the control group when compared with the study group. In addition, the study group had significantly higher postoperative Hb when compared with controls. They were also found to have less Hb difference when compared with controls. It was also shown that that women in the study group had significantly shorter duration of the third stage when compared with women in the control group. Regarding the reported complications in the studied groups, we showed no statistically significant differences between the studied groups regarding the reported complications. Conclusions: Intraumbilical oxytocin resulted in shorter duration of the third stage of labor. It also resulted in less blood loss and less hemoglobin concentration reduction.