DYSFUNCTIONAL LABOR - A RANDOMIZED TRIAL

Sixty-one women making slow progress in the active phase of spontaneou s labour with intact membranes were randomised to oxytocin and amnioto my, amniotomy only or expectant management. The data show that oxytoci n significantly increases the rate of cervical dilatation and shortens prolonged labour, when compared with amniotomy alone and expectant ma nagement (P = 0.0144 and 0.0006, respectively). The impact on the oper ative delivery rate and neonatal outcome is difficult to assess due to the small number of relevant adverse outcomes. Women reported higher satisfaction score in the two groups where intervention followed the d iagnosis of dysfunctional labour.