Intravenous Oxytocin in Patients Undergoing Elective Cesarean Section

Haemodynamic effects of repeated doses of oxytocin during Caesarean delivery in healthy parturients

“…The half-life of oxytocin is 5 -12 min. 12 This implies that half of the first dose is still present when the second dose is given, and could be part of the explanation for the observed reduced effect of a repeated dose of oxytocin. Assessment of uterine tone is difficult to quantify and it may be relevant to question the practice of giving a repeated bolus of oxytocin.…”

Serum oxytocin concentrations in elective caesarean delivery: a randomized comparison of three infusion regimens

“…Administration of 10 IU oxytocin was chosen for G1 and G2 because it is the dose normally used at our institution and has been widely described. [8][9][10][11] Eighty IU oxytocin was chosen as a high dose regimen in G3. In a randomized, double-blind study in women in labour who subsequently underwent emergency caesarean delivery, Munn et al demonstrated a reduced need for additional uterotonic agents when comparing 80 IU of oxytocin (2.67 IU/min) with 10 IU (0.33 IU/min).…”

<p>Comparison of Low Dose versus High Dose of Oxytocin for Initiating Uterine Contraction During Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized, Controlled, Non-Inferiority Trial</p>

“…Sarna et al compared four different doses of oxytocin to determine its minimal effective dose during elective cesarean section and found that there were no differences in the uterine tone in the four groups. 16 The Butwick et al studied the lower doses of oxytocin (0.5-3 units) that can produce the adequate uterine tone as the 5 units oxytocin and the prevalence of hypotension was significantly higher after 5 units oxytocin (47%). 17 Derbel et al studied to compare the 5 IU versus 10 IU bolus during Cesarean section and there were no significant differences between the two groups regarding blood loss and type of side effects that were more common in the 10 IU.…”