effect of intravenous oxytocin infusion during labour on maternal and cord serum sodium, potassium, urea and creatinine levels

ABSTRACT

90 women in labor and their newborn infants were included in this study. All women had normal full term pregnancy and were delivered vaginally. They were classified into 3 groups. Group I comprised 30 women who received 10 IU oxytocin and 500 ml saline 0.9% during labor. Group II included 30 women who received 10 IU oxytocin and 500 ml glucose 5% during labor, and 30 other women who did not receive oxytocin or intravenous fluid during labor and included as a control group. All women were subjected to full history taking, thorough clinical examination to assure that they were clinically free. The newborn infants were subjected to complete clinical examination at birth and were observed for at least 2 hours after birth to detect any abnormal behavior attributed to oxytocin infusion. From each case 3 blood samples were obtained, the first was maternal antepartum venous blood just before the infusion, the second was maternal postpartum venous blood sample immediately after delivery and the third was a cord blood sample from the umbilical cord just after delivery of the fetus before placental delivery. In each sample serum sodium, potassium, urea and creatinine concentrations were determined. Administration of oxytocin and glucose 5% by infusion during labor caused significant lowering in serum sodium and urea levels in the mothers and their newborn infants while serum postassium and creatinine levels showed no significant changes. Maternal and neonatal serum sodium, potassium, urea and creatinine levels were not affected by oxytocin and saline 0.9% infusion