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Maintenance Infusion of Oxytocin Following Elective Cesarean Deliveries

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Postpartum Hemorrhage
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT04946006
Lead Sponsor
Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital
Brief Summary

This study is designed to determine the minimal effective oxytocin maintenance dose required during cesarean delivery to achieve the best effect. Oxytocin is a drug which is routinely used to help contract the uterus and keep it contracted after the delivery of the baby and placenta. The aim of oxytocin is to reduce the amount of blood that might be lost. In order to determine the minimal effective dose, the investigators will conduct a dose-finding study. The first patient will receive a set oxytocin infusion. If the uterus contracts well, this is considered satisfactory and the next patient will receive the same dose. If the uterus does not contract well, this is considered unsatisfactory and the next patient will receive a higher dose. The dose for the next patient will be determined based on the results of the uterine contraction of the previous patient.

The investigators hypothesize that the ED90 of an oxytocin infusion rate to maintain a satisfactory uterine tone during a cesarean delivery in non-laboring women, would be lower than that found in previous studies without an initial bolus (less than 16 IU/h).

Detailed Description

This study will be conducted as a prospective, double blinded clinical trial (patient, anesthesiologist and obstetrician blinded to the oxytocin dose), in an up-down sequential allocation fashion. The objective of the study is to determine the minimum effective dose of oxytocin infusion required to produce appropriate uterine contraction during and after cesarean delivery under neuraxial anesthesia in non-laboring women. For the purpose of this study, the minimum effective dose is defined to be that at which adequate response occurs in 90% of patients, i.e. ED90.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria
  • Elective uncomplicated cesarean delivery under neuraxial anesthesia
  • >18 year-old with ASA status II or III, with a singleton gestation and a gestational age between 37 to 42 weeks Informed consent to participate in this study
Exclusion Criteria
  • Refusal to give written informed consent
  • Allergy or hypersensitivity to oxytocin
  • Body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m2on the day of admission
  • A history of hypertension and/ or severe cardiac disease(s)
  • Contra-indications for neuraxial anesthesia
  • Conditions that predispose to uterine atony and postpartum hemorrhage such as placenta previa, multiple gestation, preeclampsia, macrosomia (≥ 4 kg), polyhydramnios, uterine fibroids in and near operating field, previous history of uterine atony and postpartum bleeding, or bleeding diathesis.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Oxytocin infusion rate 8 IU/hOxytocinThe maintenance infusion rate of oxytocin will be 8 IU/h.
Oxytocin infusion rate 2 IU/hOxytocinThe maintenance infusion rate of oxytocin will be 2 IU/h.
Oxytocin infusion rate 10 IU/hOxytocinThe maintenance infusion rate of oxytocin will be 10 IU/h.
Oxytocin infusion rate 4 IU/hOxytocinThe maintenance infusion rate of oxytocin will be 4 IU/h.
Oxytocin infusion rate 6 IU/hOxytocinThe maintenance infusion rate of oxytocin will be 6 IU/h.
Oxytocin infusion rate 16 IU/hOxytocinThe maintenance infusion rate of oxytocin will be 16 IU/h.
Oxytocin infusion rate 14 IU/hOxytocinThe maintenance infusion rate of oxytocin will be 14 IU/h.
Oxytocin infusion rate 12 IU/hOxytocinThe maintenance infusion rate of oxytocin will be 12 IU/h.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Uterine tone upon discharge from the post anesthetic care unit (PACU): questionnaire2 hours

Uterine tone will be evaluated as satisfactory or unsatisfactory by the obstetrician throughout the surgery, starting at 5 minutes after the oxytocin infusion. It will also be measured at 10 minutes following the oxytocin infusion and every 10 minutes following that for the duration of the surgery. Unsatisfactory uterine tone at any time until discharge from the PACU will be considered a failure of the maintenance infusion.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Presence of vomiting: questionnaire2 hours

The presence of vomiting and number of episodes, from drug administration until end of surgery

Incidence of post partum hemorrhage24 hours

Incidence of post partum hemorrhage defined as a calculated blood loss \>1L.

Postoperative uterine position in the PACU3 hours

Postoperative uterine position (below or above the umbilicus) as determined by the PACU nurse. This is measured every 15 minutes for the first hour and then hourly until discharge to the postpartum unit.

Tachycardia: heart rate greater than 130% of baseline2 hours

Heart rate \> 130% of baseline, from drug administration until end of surgery

Intraoperative requirement for additional uterotonic medication2 hours

A request made by the obstetrician performing the cesarean delivery for additional uterotonic medication, due to bleeding or poor uterine tone.

Requirement for additional uterotonic medication in the PACU2 hours

Any uterotonic medication administered while the patient is in PACU

Episodes of bleeding postpartum24 hours

Number of episodes of bleeding postpartum up to 24 hours post delivery.

Requirement for additional uterotonic medication from discharge from the PACU until 24 hours postpartum.24 hours

Any uterotonic medication administered after the patient is discharged from PACU until 24 hours postpartum.

Hypotension: systolic blood pressure less than 80% of baseline2 hours

Systolic blood pressure \< 80% of baseline, from drug administration until end of surgery

Hypertension: systolic blood pressure greater than 120% of baseline2 hours

Systolic blood pressure \> 120% of baseline, from drug administration until end of surgery

Bradycardia: heart rate less than 70% of baseline2 hours

Heart rate \< 70% of baseline or a heart rate \< 50bpm, from drug administration until end of surgery

Presence of atrial flutter: ECG2 hours

Presence of atrial flutter as recorded by ECG, from drug administration until end of surgery

Presence of nausea: questionnaire2 hours

The presence of nausea and number of episodes, from drug administration until end of surgery, as reported by the patient

Presence of chest pain: questionnaire2 hours

Any presence of chest pain, from drug administration until end of surgery, as reported by the patient

Calculated blood loss24 hours

Estimated blood loss will be calculated using the difference in hematocrit values prior to surgery and 24 hours post surgery, using the following formula:

Calculated blood loss (mL) = EBV ((Pre-op Htc-Post-op Htc)/pre-op Htc) EBV (estimated blood volume) in ml: patient's weight in kg x 85.

Need for blood transfusion24 hours

Blood product administered.

Presence of ventricular tachycardia: ECG2 hours

Presence of ventricular tachycardia as recorded by ECG, from drug administration until end of surgery

Presence of atrial fibrillation: ECG2 hours

Presence of atrial fibrillation as recorded by ECG, from drug administration until end of surgery

Presence of shortness of breath: questionnaire2 hours

Any presence of shortness of breath, from drug administration until end of surgery, as reported by the patient

Presence of headache: questionnaire2 hours

Any presence of headache, from drug administration until end of surgery, as reported by the patient

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Mount Sinai Hospital

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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