Randomized trial of intermittent or continuous amnioinfusion for variable decelerations.

Publication/Presentation Date

10-1-2000

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether continuous or intermittent bolus amnioinfusion is more effective in relieving variable decelerations.

METHODS: Patients with repetitive variable decelerations were randomized to an intermittent bolus or continuous amnioinfusion. The intermittent bolus infusion group received boluses of 500 mL of normal saline, each over 30 minutes, with boluses repeated if variable decelerations recurred. The continuous infusion group received a bolus infusion of 500 mL of normal saline over 30 minutes and then 3 mL per minute until delivery occurred. The ability of the amnioinfusion to abolish variable decelerations was analyzed, as were maternal demographic and pregnancy outcome variables. Power analysis indicated that 64 patients would be required.

RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were randomized to intermittent infusion and 30 to continuous infusion. There were no differences between groups in terms of maternal demographics, gestational age, delivery mode, neonatal outcome, median time to resolution of variable decelerations, or the number of times variable decelerations recurred. The median volume infused in the intermittent infusion group (500 mL) was significantly less than that in the continuous infusion group (905 mL, P =.003).

CONCLUSION: Intermittent bolus amnioinfusion is as effective as continuous infusion in relieving variable decelerations in labor. Further investigation is necessary to determine whether either of these techniques is associated with increased occurrence of rare complications such as cord prolapse or uterine rupture.

Volume

96

Issue

4

First Page

571

Last Page

574

ISSN

0029-7844

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

11004361

Department(s)

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Document Type

Article

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