Umbilical vein oxytocin administration in the management of the third stage of labor

ABSTRACT

The present study included a total of 90 normal pregnant females at labor selected from the obstetric department of Kasr Aini Hospital. These patients were divided into 3 groups, 30 patients for each group. In group "A", each patient received 20 units oxytocin diluted 20 ml of normal saline into the umbilical vein after cord clamping. Group "B" received intramuscular injection of 20 units oxytocin after cord clamping. Group "C" received injection of 20 ml of normal saline into the umbilical vein after cord clamping plus 20 units of oxytocin intramuscularly. All the patients in the 3 groups received another 20 post-partum by the intravenous drip method. The study revealed that the injection of oxytocin into the umbilical vein has a significant effect on shortening the duration of the third stage of labor and reducing the blood loss during it, although umbilical vein injection of saline shortens the third stage but added oxytocin has a more significant effect. However, saline injection alone does not affect the blood loss while umbilical vein injection of oxytocin significantly reduces the blood loss during the third stage. The use of the intraumbilical vein injection of oxytocin, immediately after clamping the cord, can be recommended as an effective and safe step in the management of the third stage of labor