The oxytocin challenge test in the management of high-risk pregnancies.
Appearance of a repetitive late deceleration pattern following oxytocin-induced uterine contractions in the prepartum patient may indicate fetal compromise, while absence of this finding may reflect fetal well-being. In this study, 72 patients at risk for intrauterine asphyxia underwent 81 satisfactory oxytocin challenge tests. Eight tests in seven patients were interpreted as positive; 72, as negative; and one, as suspicious. In 64 patients with negative tests, no fetal deaths or neonatal asphyxial depressions were observed. One patient developed intrapartum fetal distress with late decelerations 8 days after a negative test and was delivered by cesarean section. The positive test appears to correlate meaningfully with other clinical parameters reflecting intrauterine compromise.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010121:Oxytocin; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011273:Pregnancy, Prolonged; D013577:Syndrome; D014599:Uterus / Q000503:physiopathology
D010121:Oxytocin