INTRAUMBILICAL OXYTOCIN FOR MANAGEMENT OF RETAINED PLACENTA

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the removal of a retained placenta. Method: Oxytocin was injected into the vein of th e umbilical cord. A total of 109 patients with retention of the placen ta were randomized into two groups. Active management of the third sta ge of labor was carried out by giving oxytocin 5 IU intravenously and ergometrine maleate 0.2 mg intramuscularly after delivery of the fetus . Group 1, which comprised 68 patients, was allocated to receive 50 IU oxytocin diluted in 10 mi 0.9% sodium chloride solution, and the 41 p atients in group 2 were given 20 ml plasma expander (dextran 70) into the umbilical vein. Results: Forty-nine cases (72%) in the oxytocin gr oup and 22 cases (54%) in the dextran 70 group required manual removal of the retained placenta. No significant differences were found betwe en group 1 (oxytocin) and group 2 (dextran 70). Conclusion: Our result s indicate that intraumbilical vein injection of oxytocin is not effec tive for removal of a retained placenta.