title: Effect of oxytocin discontinuation during the active phase of labor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the progression of labor when oxytocin use is limited to the onset of the active stage of labor.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, prospective controlled study was performed to address the issue of oxytocin infusion after the onset of active labor in 140 patients. In the study group, infusion of oxytocin was discontinued at the onset of the active phase of labor, which was accepted as a cervical dilatation of 5 cm. In the control group, incremental oxytocin infusion was administered until 5 cm cervical dilatation, and then was maintained at the same level until delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary outcome variable was duration from the beginning of the active phase to delivery. In the study group, the duration of the active phase of labor was about 30 min longer than in the control group and this difference was significant. The secondary outcomes of the study were maternal-fetal complications of oxytocin and in both groups there were no significant differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is not reasonable to discontinue oxytocin infusion at the beginning of active labor. Nevertheless, for an accurate conclusion expanded investigations are needed.
authors.affiliation: Çanakkale Provincial Hospital , Çanakkale , Turkey and.
authors.forename: Filiz Halıcı
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Öztürk
authors.forename: Saynur Sarıcı
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yalvac
authors.forename: Ömer
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Kandemir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007745:Labor Onset / Q000187:drug effects; D007747:Labor Stage, First / Q000187:drug effects; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D028761:Withholding Treatment; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: Active phase of labor; desensitization; oxytocin