Oxytocin and Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: A Cohort Study



Akhavan S¹ ; Alibakhshi A² ; Shirazi M¹ ; Mohammadi SR³ ; Tarafdari A¹
Source: Research Journal of Pharmaceutical# Biological and Chemical Sciences Published:2016

Abstract

Hyperbilirubinemia is among the most common problems encountered in term and pre term newborns. Several studies have reported an association between oxytocic drugs and neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. The aim of this cohort study was to determine the correlation between using oxytocin during labor and neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia in newborns. This cohort study with a prospective design was conducted on 168 newborn infants of mothers who referred to Sanandaj Besat Hospital and were managed with oxytocin during labor either for labor induction or augmentation. These 168 newborn infants were compared with 180 newborn infants of mothers without oxytocin therapy for incidence of hyperbilirubinaemia. Mothers of two groups were matched for age, parity, gestational age and birth weight. Data were analyzed using SPSS, qui square and T-test. According to the results of this study the incidence of hyperbilirubinaemia in newborns was 8.9 percent (39 cases). There was no significant association statistically between neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and using oxytocin for induction of labor (p=0.44). Using oxytocin to manage labor may not affect neonatal bilirubin levels when oxytocin is used in usual duration and dose.