[Tissue pO2 and fetal heart activity during induction of labor with oxytocin].

A total of 65 women in labor complicated with uterine inertia were investigated for tissue pO2 and cardiac performance of fetuses under the effect of oxytocin. The authors stated that the aggravation of fetal status in drug-induced labors resulted from poorer tissue oxygenation caused by the activation of uterine contractility. In this line, hypoxic changes of the fetus were more pronounced in pregnancies complicated by nephropathy or prolonged pregnancy. Accurate monitoring of the fetal status and the character of induced labor course was found to be mandatory. Before oxytocin induction the fetus should be protected with diazepam.