oxytocin and HELLP-Syndrome

To observe whether induction of labor (IoL) among women with severe pre-eclampsia (PE) can be expedited by initiating oxytocin early (after 6 h) than after 12 h following cervical ripening with a combined method.. Women with severe PE and Bishop's < 6 (n = 96) were randomized into two groups. All women received cervical ripening with a combined method (intracervical Foley's plus dinoprostone gel 0.5 mg) following which Group 1 women received oxytocin after 6 h (with Foley's in-situ) and Group 2 after 12 h (after removing Foley's) RESULTS: Majority were nulliparous (63% in group 1 and 77% in group 2) and the mean gestation was similar (35.3 ± 2.98 weeks in group 1 and 35.5 ± 3.09 in group 2). Nearly half the women had partial HELLP/ HELLP (47.9% and 54.1%; in groups 1 and 2, respectively). The induction-delivery interval (IDI) was significantly reduced in group 1 (16 h 6 min vs 22 h 6 min in group 2; p = 0.001). The cesarean section (CS) rate was 37.5% in group 1 and 31.3% in group 2 (p = 0.525), but the study was underpowered to assess this outcome. The neonatal outcome was similar, 92/96 neonates were discharged after a hospital stay of 3-52 days. There were 4 neonatal deaths (1 in group 1 and 3 in group 2) of extreme or very preterm neonates (27-30 + 6 wks) with birth weight of 735-965 gm.. Among women with severe PE undergoing IoL, initiating oxytocin 6 h after cervical ripening with a combined method reduced the IDI significantly as compared to initiating it after 12 h, with a similar CS rate and neonatal outcome.

Topics: Cervical Ripening; Cesarean Section; Female; HELLP Syndrome; Humans; India; Infant, Newborn; Labor, Induced; Oxytocics; Oxytocin; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy

A 35-year-old, 39-week pregnant woman underwent an uneventful emergent cesarean delivery for suspected placental abruption or uterine dehiscence. Given the urgency of the situation and the unremarkable airway anatomy, general anesthesia was the chosen technique. Four hours after her surgery, she returned to the operating room for persistent vaginal bleeding. Hematology tests performed before the cesarean delivery revealed severe thrombocytopenia. This was later diagnosed as idiopathic thrombocytopenia, which was treated successfully with steroid therapy.

Topics: Adult; Cesarean Section; Female; HELLP Syndrome; Hemorrhage; Humans; Methylergonovine; Oxytocics; Oxytocin; Platelet Count; Postpartum Hemorrhage; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic