Abstract: Background and Aim: Synthetic oxytocin is one of the most frequently used medications in obstetric care and the common routine for augmentation of labour. High dose oxytocin has high risk of excessive uterine contraction or tachysystole. Present research is an attempt to evaluate effectiveness of low dose versus high dose regimen for induction of labour.
Material and Methods: A total of 200 antenatal patients who were admitted for induction of labour were enrolled in the study. All patients were randomised by block randomisation into two groups i.e. Group I and Group II, each consisting of 100 patients. A detailed history, thorough clinical examination and relevant investigations were done for all the women. Per vaginal examination was done to know the cervical status and the bishop score. High dose regimen was started with 4mu/min with increment of 4mu/min up to a maximum of 32mu/min and low dose regimen was started with 2mu/min with increment of 2mu/min up to a maximum of 32mu/min. Induction to delivery interval was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes noted were rate of caesarean section, tachysytole with or without fetal distress, failed induction, maternal outcomes like need for instrumental vaginal delivery, PPH and choriamnionitis, neonatal outcomes like NICU admission, umbilical cord pH and apgar score.
Results: Women induced with high dose oxytocin regimen had shorter induction delivery interval as compared to low dose oxytocin interval by 2 hours 9 minutes. The incidence of various maternal outcomes in the high dose and low dose oxytocin regimen were similar. The most common indications for LSCS in the two groups were fetal distress and failed induction. A special consideration is required for the incidence of tachysystole, which was more in high dose regimen as compared to low dose oxytocin regimen but the difference was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: High dose oxytocin regimen can be considered for induction of labour as it has same effects as that of low dose regimen with lesser induction to delivery interval.
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