title: Normal saline i.v. fluid load decreases uterine activity in active labour.
abstract: This study was designed to observe the effects of i.v. fluid infusion on uterine activity during normal labour in women receiving an extradural block. Thirty-four women in spontaneous labour at term gestation were allocated randomly and prospectively to one of three i.v. pre-extradural fluid load groups: group A, no fluid load; group B, normal saline 500 ml; and group C, normal saline 1000 ml. Continuous internal measurement of uterine activity was observed before, during and after fluid infusion and extradural block. In groups A and B, uterine activity did not change. In group C, uterine activity decreased after infusion of saline (P < 0.01) and returned to baseline over the next 20 min. Extradural block was not associated with a change in uterine activity. Hypotension was not increased in the group that received no fluid preload.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Cheek
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Samuels
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tobin
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Gutsche
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride