Effect of umbilical vein oxytocin injection on the third stage of labor: a randomized controlled study

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of umbilical vein oxytocin injection on the duration of third stage of labor, and estimated blood loss within 24 hours postpartum, in 50 vaginal parturients at Rajavithi Hospital from March 1, 1994 and June 30, 1995. The parturients were randomized to administered either an umbilical vein injection of 20 units of oxytocin diluted to 20 ml with normal saline (oxytocin group) or only normal saline 20 ml (control group) immediately after cord clamping. There were 25 paturients in each group. The duration of the third stage of labor in the oxytocin group was significantly shorter than that in the control group. In only 1 case of the control group was manual placental removal performed. The estimated blood loss within 24 hours postpartum in both groups was not statistically different. Twenty units of umbilical vein oxytocin injection was effective to shorten the duration of the third stage of labor but were not effective to reduce the estimated blood loss within 24 hours postpartum. The need for a further large scale study in the future was suggested.