Use of oxytocin during early stages of labor and its effect on active management of third stage of labor

SOSA CG; ALTHABE F; BELIZAN JM; BUEKENS P

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY

MOSBY-ELSEVIER

Año: 2011 p. 1 - 5

0002-9378

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the use of oxytocin during the first and second stages of labor is associated with a higher incidence of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in pregnant women who received active management of third stage of labor (AMTSL). STUDY DESIGN: A secondary data analysis from vaginal deliveries in a hospital-based cohort study from 24 maternity hospitals in South America. The primary outcomes that were analyzed were moderate PPH (≥500 mL of blood loss), severe PPH (≥1000 mL of blood loss), and need of blood transfusion. RESULTS: A total of 11,323 vaginal deliveries were included. The incidence of moderate and severe PPH was 10.8% and 1.86%, respectively. Overall, 36% of deliveries received AMTSL. There was no association between induced/augmented labor and moderate PPH (P = .753), severe PPH (P = .273), and blood transfusion (P = .603) in the population that received AMTSL. CONCLUSION: AMTSL should be recommended, regardless of whether pregnant women received oxytocin during the first and second stages of labor.