A comparative study of methods of oxytocin administration for induction of labour.

Equipment has become available for the automatic infusion of oxytocin in a closed loop system for the induction of labour. This system was compared with manual administration of oxytocin by peristaltic infusion pump, the dosage being based on data derived from an intrauterine catheter or by clinical assessment of uterine activity. A total of 121 patients classified according to parity and cervical score were allocated to an automatic infusion system (AIS) or a peristaltic infusion pump system. Patient characteristics were similar in both groups. Labour was significantly longer in those induced by automatic infusion system particularly in nulliparae and patients with poor cervical scores. In 53.3% of the nulliparae with poor cervical scores the automatic infusion system proved inadequate to effect vaginal delivery. Neonatal outcome was similar in both groups. Automatic infusion of oxytocin by the present system increased the length of induced labour and had no statistically significant effect on neonatal outcome, conferring no advantage over a more traditional method of oxytocin administration.