Prospective randomized study of oxytocin discontinuation after the active stage of labor is established

AIM: To investigate the effects of discontinuing oxytocin infusion on labor outcomes once the active stage of labor is established. METHODS: This is a prospective study involving 342 pregnant women who underwent labor induction at our institution. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. In the first group oxytocin was discontinued at the beginning of the active phase of labor, and in the other group, oxytocin was administered until delivery. RESULTS: Duration of the active phase and the second stage of labor were longer in the oxytocin-discontinued group; however, this was not statistically significant. The rate of uterine hyperstimulation was significantly higher in oxytocin-continued group (P < 0.05). The total cesarean delivery rate for the oxytocin-continued group was 6.9%, compared with 4.8% in the oxytocin-discontinued group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Discontinuing oxytocin infusion once the active stage of labor is established may be an alternative protocol in developing countries where the conditions for fetal monitoring and emergency cesarean section are less available.