Oxytocin Rest to Reduce Cesarean Delivery

Description

Prolonged labor is usually managed with continuous oxytocin infusion. "Oxytocin rest" has been proposed as a strategy to resolve protracted labor in patients who have received continuous oxytocin without progress. This strategy involves discontinuing oxytocin then restarting infusion after a period of time, under the theory that washout of the oxytocin receptor will strengthen uterine contractions to improve labor progress. "Oxytocin rest" is performed on labor and delivery units across the United States. Yet, there is no randomized or prospective data to support the practice. The purpose of this study is to assess whether oxytocin rest of 60 minutes in patients with prolonged labor reduces risk for cesarean delivery.

Conditions

Prolonged Labor, Failed Induction, Labor Dystocia

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Prolonged labor is usually managed with continuous oxytocin infusion. "Oxytocin rest" has been proposed as a strategy to resolve protracted labor in patients who have received continuous oxytocin without progress. This strategy involves discontinuing oxytocin then restarting infusion after a period of time, under the theory that washout of the oxytocin receptor will strengthen uterine contractions to improve labor progress. "Oxytocin rest" is performed on labor and delivery units across the United States. Yet, there is no randomized or prospective data to support the practice. The purpose of this study is to assess whether oxytocin rest of 60 minutes in patients with prolonged labor reduces risk for cesarean delivery.

Oxytocin Rest to Reduce Cesarean Delivery in Prolonged Labor: An Open-Label, Randomized Controlled Trial

Oxytocin Rest to Reduce Cesarean Delivery

Condition
Prolonged Labor
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Newark

ChristianaCare Health System, Newark, Delaware, United States, 19718

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * ≥18 years of age
  • * Singleton gestation in vertex presentation
  • * ≥36 weeks gestation
  • * Prolonged latent labor, defined as cervical dilation \<6cm after ≥8 hours since rupture of membranes and on continuous oxytocin
  • * Not meeting the above criteria
  • * Any contraindication to continuous oxytocin at time of randomization
  • * Cesarean section anticipated by the clinical team at time of randomization (for any reason excepting labor dystocia)
  • * \>18 hours between rupture of membranes and randomization
  • * Known intraamniotic infection at randomization
  • * Fetal demise
  • * Any contraindication to vaginal delivery
  • * Maternal eclampsia

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 55 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Christiana Care Health Services,

Teresa C Logue, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Christiana Care Health Services

Matthew K Hoffman, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Christiana Care Health Services

Study Record Dates

2026-03-15