RESUMEN
The aim of this work was to study the frequency of transient tachypnea of the newborn [TTN] and the possible relation to the use of oxytocin and glucose 5% during labour Subjects investigated were enrolled into two groups: the first [study] group consisted of 100 newborn infants born to mothers who have received IV infusion of aqueous glucose solution 5% and oxytocin. The second [control] group consisted of 30 newborns whose mothers did not receive any IV infusion. In the study group, the amount and rate of infusion of oxytocin and glucose 5% were calculated. The blood samples [maternal and cord] were drawn just after delivery in the study and control groups. Newborns were diagnosed as having TTN if they fulfilled the following criteria: persistent tachypnea with onset within 1/2 hour after birth, minimal grunting and retractions, with or without cyanosis in room air, necessity for oxygen therapy, spontaneous improvement starting within 24 hours after birth, Fi02 not more than 0.4 and suggestive radiological findings. Our results showed that maternal and cord serum sodium levels of the study group were significantly lower than those of the control group with a significant negative correlation between the maternal and cord serum sodium and the amount of oxytocin and glucose 5%. No significant difference between maternal and related cord serum sodium in both groups. Hyponatremia developed in 25 out of 100 cases of the study group and in 2 out of 30 cases of the control group with a significant difference. TTN developed in 17% of the study group and in none of the control group. The difference was significant. Serum sodium in the newborns who developed TTN was lower than in those who did not develop TTN. Out of 25 cases with hyponatremia, 8 developed TTN [32%] while out of 75 cases without hyponatremia, only 9 [12%] developed TTN with a significant difference. The amount and rate of infusion of oxytocin were higher in the TTN group than the non-TTN group. TTN was more frequent when the amount of oxytocin exceeded 10 units and the rate of infusion exceeded 25 mu/min. The amount and rate of infusion of glucose 5% did not differ in the TTN group from the non-TTN group. We concluded that the amount of oxytocin and glucose 5% infusion are related to the development of maternal and neonatal hyponatremia and the amount and rate of infusion of oxytocin are related to the occurrence of TTN. To decrease the incidence of TTN, We recommend that the dose of oxytocin should not exceed 10 units at a rate of infusion of less than 25 mu/min