title: Oxytocin use in grand-multiparous patients: safety and complications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the use of oxytocin for the augmentation of labor in grandmultiparous women increases the risk of peripartum complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the years 1989-97, 11 075 grand-multiparous women delivered at our institution. In 424 grand-multiparous women, intravenous oxytocin was used for augmentation of labor. The control group consisted of the other 10 651 grand-multiparous women. All women were monitored for fetal heart rate and uterine contractions. We compared the rates of maternal and perinatal complications in these two groups by using chi(2) analysis and Fisher's exact test when appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found between the oxytocin and the control groups in the rates of placental abruption, intrapartum fetal death, postpartum hemorrhage, uterine rupture, fetal distress, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, an Apgar score of less than 7 at 5 min, Cesarean section, retained placenta and vaginal and cervical lacerations. In contrast, a significant increase in the rate of vacuum deliveries was observed in patients given oxytocin as compared to controls (3.5% vs. 1.4%, respectively; p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of oxytocin in the grand-multiparous parturient was a safe procedure with no significant increase in peripartum complications. However, a higher rate of vacuum deliveries was found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ben-Aroya
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yochai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Silberstein
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hallak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008499:Medical Records; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014590:Uterine Contraction
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin