Management of retained placentae by injection of a high dose of oxytocin through a feeding tube inserted to the umbilical vein

Abstract

Oxytocin administration directly to the umbilical vein is a known management of the retained placenta. Injecting solution via a tube passed along the umbilical vein is known to improve the passage of oxytocin to the villous capillary level of the placenta, where the mechanism of separation takes place. To determine whether the injection of a high dose ,30 International units (IU) of oxytocin, to umbilical vein in 30 milliliters (ml) oxytocin and normal saline solution through a feeding tube inserted into the umbilical vein is more effective in the management of retained placenta compared with direct injection of oxytocin solution to the umbilical vein. A randomized controlled trial done at De Zoysa Maternity Hospital, Colombo and University Obstetric Unit, Colombo South Teaching Hospital, .Kalubowila Sri Lanka from 0 I 5t August 2007 to 31 5t July 2008. Method: Seventy women with retained placenta for 20 minutes or more and who fulfilled a pre determined criteria were randomized to two groups with the intervention group getting umbilical vein administration of 3'0 IU of oxytocin in 30 ml normal saline using size 10 infant feeding tube and the control group similar volume of normal saline only in the same way.