Intraumbilical vein oxytocin for retained placentae: Is it effective ?

Abstract

Objective of the study was to determine the place of intraumbilical vein oxytocin in the management of retained placentae. ie. to determine whether intraumbilical vein injection of oxytocin in cases of retained placentae will lead to expulsion of the placentae and thus reduce the need for manual removal of the retained placentae. Subjects were Eighty eight consecutive women showing no evidence of placental separation twenty minutes after a vaginal delivery, on the days that the investigator was on duty. Intraumbilical vein injection of 10 IU oxytocin was used as intervention. Main outcome measures were time taken for spontaneous expulsion of placentae after intraumbilical vein oxytocin injection. Need for manual removal after twenty five minutes of intraumbilical vein injection of oxytocin. Results showed that in 51.2 of the subjects the intervention was successful and the placentae was delivered within twenty five minutes of the intervention with a mean time of expulsion of 11.5 minutes (SD 5.7). Of these subjects in seven the placentae was expelled in approximately five minutes and in eight in approximately fifteen minutes. Intraumbilical vein injection of oxytocin is an effective therapeutic option for the management of retained placentae.