Oxytocin exposure during labor among women with postpartum hemorrhage secondary to uterine atony.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine if women with severe postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) secondary to uterine atony received greater amounts of oxytocin during labor compared to women without PPH.


METHODS
Subjects with severe PPH secondary to uterine atony, who received a blood transfusion, were compared to matched controls. Total oxytocin exposure was calculated as the area under the concentration curve (mU/min*min). Variables were compared using paired t test, χ², and logistic regression.


RESULTS
Women with severe PPH had a mean oxytocin area under the curve of 10,054 mU compared to 3762 mU in controls (P < .001). After controlling for race, body mass index, admission hematocrit, induction status, magnesium therapy, and chorioamnionitis using logistic regression, oxytocin area under the curve continued to predict severe PPH.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with severe PPH secondary to uterine atony were exposed to significantly more oxytocin during labor compared to matched controls.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
Chad A
CA
Grotegut
Michael J
MJ
Paglia
Lauren N C
LN
Johnson
Betty
B
Thames
Andra H
AH
James
D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014593:Uterine Inertia / Q000208:ethnology
D010120:Oxytocics; D010121:Oxytocin