The Oxytocin Stress Test and the Isoxsuprine Placental Transfer Test in the Management of Suspected Placental Insufficiency

Abstract

Forty-one patients had an oxytocin stress test and of the five in whom late decelerations of the fetal heart were noted, one baby was born depressed and another died in the neonatal period of multiple congenital anomalies. Two infants died following a negative test; the first died in utero one week after the test, the second within hours of birth after profound fetal distress in the second stage of labour.Twenty-two patients had an isoxsuprine placental transfer test but the results did not correlate with the oxytocin stress test, birthweight for gestational age, or Apgar score of the infant.