A RETROSPECTIVE CASE CONTROL STUDY ON ASSOCIATION BETWEEN USE OF OXYTOCIN IN LABOUR AND POOR MATERNAL- FETAL OUTCOMES

Abstract

Oxytocin is most commonly used drug in obstetrics practice, as a result of various studies indicating its adverse maternal and fetal effects, in recent years there have been lots of focus on judicious use of oxytocin. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between the oxytocin exposure and maternal and fetal outcomes. It was a retrospective hospital record based case control study done over a period of 6 months. All the women with term singleton pregnancies, after an uncomplicated pregnancy who received oxytocin induction/ augmentation were included, for every case a control was also recruited.  After adjustment for all the potential confounders, Oxytocin use during labour was associated with higher risk of Post Partum Hemorrhage and low apgar at 1 and 5minutes interval. Oxytocin use during labour appears to be an independent risk factor for poor maternal and fetal outcome.