Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-20321
Publication type: Article in scientific journal
Type of review: Peer review (publication)
Title: How much synthetic oxytocin is infused during labour? : a review and analysis of regimens used in 12 countries
Authors: Daly, Deirdre
Minnie, Karin C. S.
Blignaut, Alwiena
Blix, Ellen
Vika Nilsen, Anne Britt
Dencker, Anna
Beeckman, Katrien
Gross, Mechthild Maria
Pehlke-Milde, Jessica
Grylka, Susanne
Koenig-Bachmann, Martina
Clausen, Jette Aaroe
Hadjigeorgiou, Eleni
Morano, Sandra
Iannuzzi, Laura
Baranowska, Barbara
Kiersnowska, Iwona
Uvnäs-Moberg, Kerstin
et. al: No
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227941
10.21256/zhaw-20321
Published in: PLOS ONE
Volume(Issue): 15
Issue: 7
Page(s): e0227941
Issue Date: 28-Jul-2020
Publisher / Ed. Institution: Public Library of Science
ISSN: 1932-6203
Language: English
Subject (DDC): 618.4: Childbirth
Abstract: Objective: To compare synthetic oxytocin infusion regimens used during labour, calculate the International Units (IU) escalation rate and total amount of IU infused over eight hours. Design: Observational study. Setting: Twelve countries, eleven European and South Africa. Sample: National, regional or institutional-level regimens on oxytocin for induction and augmentation labour. Methods: Data on oxytocin IU dose, infusion fluid amount, start dose, escalation rate and maximum dose were collected. Values for each regimen were converted to IU in 1000ml diluent. One IU corresponded to 1.67μg for doses provided in grams/micrograms. IU hourly dose increase rates were based on escalation frequency. Cumulative doses and total IU amount infused were calculated by adding the dose administered for each previous hour. Main Outcome Measures Oxytocin IU dose infused. Results: Data were obtained on 21 regimens used in 12 countries. Details on the start dose, escalation interval, escalation rate and maximum dose infused were available from 16 regimens. Starting rates varied from 0.06 IU/hour to 0.90 IU/hour, and the maximum dose rate varied from 0.90 IU/hour to 3.60 IU/hour. The total amount of IU oxytocin infused, estimated over eight hours, ranged from 2.38 IU to 27.00 IU, a variation of 24.62 IU and an 11-fold difference. Conclusion: Current variations in oxytocin regimens for induction and augmentation of labour are inexplicable. It is crucial that the appropriate minimum infusion regimen is administered because synthetic oxytocin is a potentially harmful medication with serious consequences for women and babies when inappropriately used. Estimating the total amount of oxytocin IU received by labouring women, alongside the institution’s mode of birth and neonatal outcomes, may deepen our understanding and be the way forward to identifying the optimal infusion regimen.
URI: https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/20321
Fulltext version: Published version
License (according to publishing contract): CC BY 4.0: Attribution 4.0 International
Departement: School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit: Institute of Midwifery and Reproductive Health (IHG)
Appears in collections:Publikationen Gesundheit

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Daly, D., Minnie, K. C. S., Blignaut, A., Blix, E., Vika Nilsen, A. B., Dencker, A., Beeckman, K., Gross, M. M., Pehlke-Milde, J., Grylka, S., Koenig-Bachmann, M., Clausen, J. A., Hadjigeorgiou, E., Morano, S., Iannuzzi, L., Baranowska, B., Kiersnowska, I., & Uvnäs-Moberg, K. (2020). How much synthetic oxytocin is infused during labour? : a review and analysis of regimens used in 12 countries. Plos One, 15(7), e0227941. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227941
Daly, D. et al. (2020) ‘How much synthetic oxytocin is infused during labour? : a review and analysis of regimens used in 12 countries’, PLOS ONE, 15(7), p. e0227941. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227941.
D. Daly et al., “How much synthetic oxytocin is infused during labour? : a review and analysis of regimens used in 12 countries,” PLOS ONE, vol. 15, no. 7, p. e0227941, Jul. 2020, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227941.
DALY, Deirdre, Karin C. S. MINNIE, Alwiena BLIGNAUT, Ellen BLIX, Anne Britt VIKA NILSEN, Anna DENCKER, Katrien BEECKMAN, Mechthild Maria GROSS, Jessica PEHLKE-MILDE, Susanne GRYLKA, Martina KOENIG-BACHMANN, Jette Aaroe CLAUSEN, Eleni HADJIGEORGIOU, Sandra MORANO, Laura IANNUZZI, Barbara BARANOWSKA, Iwona KIERSNOWSKA und Kerstin UVNÄS-MOBERG, 2020. How much synthetic oxytocin is infused during labour? : a review and analysis of regimens used in 12 countries. PLOS ONE. 28 Juli 2020. Bd. 15, Nr. 7, S. e0227941. DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0227941
Daly, Deirdre, Karin C. S. Minnie, Alwiena Blignaut, Ellen Blix, Anne Britt Vika Nilsen, Anna Dencker, Katrien Beeckman, et al. 2020. “How Much Synthetic Oxytocin Is Infused during Labour? : A Review and Analysis of Regimens Used in 12 Countries.” Plos One 15 (7): e0227941. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227941.
Daly, Deirdre, et al. “How Much Synthetic Oxytocin Is Infused during Labour? : A Review and Analysis of Regimens Used in 12 Countries.” Plos One, vol. 15, no. 7, July 2020, p. e0227941, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227941.


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