Prophylactic amnioinfusion as a treatment for oligohydramnios in laboring patients: a prospective, randomized trial. Therapeutic amnioinfusion for intrapartum fetal distress using a pediatric feeding tube. Lipid peroxidation in cord blood: a randomised sequential pairs study of prophylactic saline amnioinfusion for intrapartum oligohydramnios. Saline amnioinfusion for relief of repetitive variable decelerations: a prospective randomized study. Transabdominal amnioinfusion in oligohydramnios at term before induction of labor with intact membranes: a randomized clinical trial. Amnioinfusion for relief of recurrent severe and moderate variable decelerations in labor. Prophylactic transcervical amnioinfusion in laboring women with oligohydramnios. Prophylactic intrapartum amnioinfusion for patients with oligohydramnios. A prospective randomized study. [Intrapartum amnio-infusion in patients with oligohydramnios]. Amnioinfusion in term labor with low amniotic fluid due to rupture of membranes: a new indication. A prospective, randomized evaluation of intrapartum amnioinfusion. Fetal acid-base status and cesarean delivery. Prophylactic intrapartum amnioinfusion in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes. Prophylactic intrapartum amnioinfusion: a randomized clinical trial. A prospective randomized study of saline solution amnioinfusion. Intrapartum amnioinfusion in women with oligohydramniosis. A prospective randomized trial.
Prophylactic amnioinfusion was studied in a randomized sample of 305 patients with oligohydramnios in labor. One hundred seventy-five patients underwent amnioinfusion with the remainder serving as controls. Amniotic fluid was titrated to an amniotic fluid index greater than 10.0 cm in the treatment group. Patients receiving amnioinfusion had significantly less operative intervention for fetal distress (p = 0.0001) and fewer cesarean sections (p = 0.0001). Umbilical artery pH at the time of delivery also was increased (p = 0.0001). Rates of amnionitis and endometritis were not significantly different between infused patients and controls, although the length of hospital stay was significantly decreased (p = 0.002) in the treatment group. Our data support earlier reports in the literature that amnioinfusion is a useful technique for decreasing intrapartum morbidity for both mother and fetus. To evaluate the role of therapeutic amnioinfusion using a pediatric feeding tube in cases of intrapartum fetal distress.
                A randomized clinical trial including 438 women admitted in labor at Assiut University Hospital with nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing. Using sealed opaque envelopes, the women were randomized to 2 groups. In the amnioinfusion group they underwent transcervical amnioinfusion (1000 mL of warmed sterile saline solution) in addition to conventional treatment. In the control group they received conventional treatment only. The primary outcome was cesarean section rate for fetal distress. The secondary outcomes were neonatal and maternal complications.
                The amnioinfusion group showed a significant reduction in the rate of cesarean section for fetal distress (relative risk [RR], 0.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6-0.83), and a 30% reduction in abnormal fetal heart rate patterns (RR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.6-0.83). Significantly fewer newborns had Apgar scores less than 7 at 1 and 5 min in the amnioinfusion group than in the control group (RR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.26-0.55 and RR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.15-0.64, respectively). Significantly fewer newborns had meconium below the vocal cords in the amnioinfusion group than in the control group (RR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.13-0.97). Moreover, 14 newborns in the amnioinfusion group needed admission to the intensive care unit vs. 31 newborns in the control group. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups regarding the incidence rates of uterine hypertonus and maternal temperature higher than 38 degrees C.
                Therapeutic amnioinfusion is a simple and effective intervention that reduces the rates of cesarean section for intrapartum nonreassuring fetal heart tracing. In under-resourced settings, it can be performed using inexpensive catheters. To determine the efficacy of prophylactic intrapartum amnioinfusion in reducing cord arterial lipid peroxide levels in cases of intrapartum oligohydramnios.
                Sequential randomised pairs trial.
                Delivery suite of a teaching hospital, the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
                Women with singleton, term pregnancy, cephalic presentation, clear amniotic fluid and an amniotic fluid index < or = 5 cm, with a normal intrapartum fetal heart rate tracing within 30 minutes of amniotomy.
                Selected patients were randomised either for prophylactic saline amnioinfusion or as control cases. Cord arterial lipid peroxide concentrations and acid base balance were determined at delivery.
                Operative intervention for fetal distress, cord arterial malondialdehyde and organic hydroperoxide levels, pH and base excess.
                Amnioinfusion was associated with significant reductions in the incidence of operative delivery for fetal distress and in lipid peroxide levels, an increase in base excess, but no significant alteration in pH.
                Oligohydramnios in labour is associated with high levels of lipid peroxidation, reflecting cellular damage by release of free radicals following hypoxia reperfusion. Prophylactic intrapartum saline amnioinfusion is an effective technique for the reduction of lipid peroxidation and of the incidence of operative intervention for fetal distress but has no significant effect on overall operative delivery rates. A prospective randomized study was undertaken in order to further investigate the effect of intrauterine saline amnioinfusion for the relief of repetitive variable decelerations in the first stage of labor. Intrauterine saline amnioinfusion corrects the oligohydramnios that makes the cord more vulnerable to compression during uterine contractions. Included in this study were 96 patients who had repetitive variable decelerations not relieved either by changes in position or by oxygen. Randomization resulted in 49 patients in the infusion group and 47 patients in the noninfusion group. Relief of variable decelerations was 51% in the infusion group, as compared to 4.2% in the noninfusion group. Relief of variable decelerations was more dramatic in the nulliparous infusion group (66.7%) than in the noninfusion group (0%). In the nulliparous patients there was a significant decrease in the rate of cesarean sections for fetal distress, being 14.8% in the infusion group as compared to 47.6% in the noninfusion group. This study clearly showed that saline amnioinfusion is a logical, simple, safe, and effective therapy for the relief of repetitive variable decelerations in the first stage of labor and can lower the incidence of cesarean sections for fetal distress in nulliparous patients. Furthermore, amnioinfusion was much superior to changes in position in treating repetitive variable decelerations. Our purpose was to determine the effectiveness of transabdominal amnioinfusion before induction of labor in reducing the incidence of fetal distress in pregnancies with oligohydramnios at term.
                Between June 1991 and September 1994 primiparous women with ultrasonographic evidence of oligohydramnios at term, intact membranes, and unripe cervix (Bishop score < or = 6), candidates for induction of labor with cervical or vaginal prostaglandin E2 gel, were randomly selected to receive transabdominal amnioinfusion (amnioinfused group, n = 39) or to proceed with direct labor induction (control group, n = 40). Inclusion criteria were (1) singleton gestation, (2) vertex presentation, (3) ultrasonographic estimation of fetal weight > or = 2500 gm, and (4) reactive nonstress test. Fetoneonatal outcome variables were compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis used contingency tables, Student t test, or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, where applicable.
                Amnioinfusion was successfully performed in 100% of the patients randomized for the procedure. The incidence of severely abnormal fetal heart rate tracings was significantly higher in the control than in the amnioinfused group (42% [17/33] vs 5% [2/37], relative risk 12.9, 95% confidence interval 2.4 to 56.4). The rate of cesarean sections performed for fetal distress was fivefold higher in the control group (25% [10/40] vs 5% [2/39], relative risk 4.9, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 32.4). No bleeding complications or fetomaternal infectious morbidity were noticed.
                Transabdominal amnioinfusion is a safe, effective option for the prevention of fetal distress in pregnancies with oligohydramnios at term with intact membranes and unripe cervix. To determine whether intrapartum amnioinfusion (AI) relieves recurrent moderate and severe variable decelerations in laboring women with clear or grade I meconium-stained amniotic fluid and reduces cesarean section rate for fetal distress.
                A randomized controlled trial was conducted in labor unit of Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, India, between October 2003 and September 2004. Women were randomized to receive AI (group I) and not to receive it (group II).
                A total of 150 women (75 in each group) were included in the study. There was significant relief of variable decelerations in group I and no difference in overall cesarean section rate but significant reduction in cesarean section rate for fetal distress in group I, and significant reduction in cesarean section rate for fetal distress in nulliparous women of group I. Neonatal acidemia was also significantly reduced in the nulliparous women receiving AI. The duration of maternal postpartum hospital stay was significantly reduced in group I. There were no adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes.
                AI was a beneficial therapeutic intervention in women patients showing fetal distress in first stage of labor, and it reduced cesarean section for fetal distress and neonatal acidemia. Evaluation of prophylactic intrapartum amnioinfusion in women with oligohydramnios.
                Assiut University Hospital during the period from February 2000 to September 2001, 160 laboring women with oligohydramnios [amniotic fluid index (AFI) </=5 cm] were randomized into: amnioinfusion and control groups. Inclusion criteria were: term singleton gestation, vertex presentation, cervical dilatation <4 cm, and assuring fetal heart rate (FHR). Trans-cervical amnioinfusion was done with warmed normal saline.
                there was a significant increase in AFI after amnioinfusion (P<0.001). The amnioinfusion group showed lower cesarean section rate for fetal distress (P=0.003), lower incidence of abnormal FHR (P=0.006), fewer neonates with Apgar score <7 at 1 min (P<0.001), and 5 min (P=0.009), meconium below vocal cords (P<0.001), umbilical arterial pH<7.1 (P=0.003), and significantly shorter hospital stay (P=0.02).
                Prophylactic trans-cervical amnioinfusion is a simple, safe and effective procedure. This prospective study evaluated whether prophylactic saline amnioinfusion among patients with amniotic fluid index (AFI) < or = 5.0 cm decreases the incidence of adverse fetal outcomes. Randomization of 53 patients with decreased AFI at term, resulted in 21 patients' receiving prophylactic saline amnioinfusion early in labor, prior to development of an abnormal fetal heart rate tracing. For the treatment group the mean AFI on admission was 3.0 cm, and the postamnioinfusion AFI was 8.9 cm. For 32 comparison (noninfusion) patients, the mean AFI was 2.9 cm; the group consisted of 17 patients randomized to receive no amnioinfusion (control group) and 15 patients who refused to participate in the study. There was no statistically significant difference between the amnioinfused and nonamnioinfused patients with regard to age, parity, gestational age, AFI at admission or duration of first or second stage of labor. Amnioinfusion resulted in no statistically significant reduction in the incidence of recurrent variable decelerations/bradycardia (26.3% vs. 46.6%), intrapartum resuscitation with terbutaline (5.2% vs. 10.0%), cesarean section for fetal distress (9.5% vs. 9.3%), fetal-acidosis (10.5% vs. 12.0%) or Apgar scores < 7 at five minutes (5.2% vs. 0%) in patients with oligohydramnios. Patients with oligohydramnios are at increased risk of developing fetal distress during labor, presumably as the result of umbilical cord compression. Intrapartum saline amnio-infusion for short-term amnionic fluid replacement was performed in a prospective randomized manner in 60 cases of oligohydramnios during period of 1-year. Patients receiving amnio-infusion had significantly lower incidence of neonatal asphyxia and less cesarean sections as compared with the controls. No neonatal nor maternal complication occurred. The effect of amnio-infusion was also confirmed by B type ultrasonic examination. These results suggested that intrapartum saline amnio-infusion might be a hopeful therapy for patients with oligohydramnios. The null hypothesis was that the use of intrapartum amnioinfusion to induce term labor because of premature rupture of membranes when labor was complicated by low amniotic fluid volume due to vaginal loss would not improve fetal heart rate patterns, decrease the incidence of operative delivery, or improve neonatal acid-base status.
                200 term pregnancies with low amniotic fluid due to vaginal loss were randomly chosen to receive intrapartum amnioinfusion or standard obstetric care without amnioinfusion. Fetal heart rate pattern, method of delivery and neonatal acid-base status were compared with Student's t test, chi-squared analysis, Mann-Whitney U- or Fisher's exact test.
                When amnioinfusion was used, the fetuses had lower rates of variable (74 vs. 91%, P<0.01) or late (26 vs. 58%, P<0.001) decelerations. Spontaneous deliveries were more frequent (77 vs. 59%, P<0.01) and cesarean sections less frequent (3 vs. 10%, P<0.05). Mean umbilical arterial (7.24+/-0.07 vs. 7.21+/-0.08, P<0.01) and venous (7.31+/-0.06 vs. 7.28+/-0.08, P<0.01) pH were significantly higher in newborns with amnioinfusion, and babies in this group had lower rates of neonatal acidemia of arterial (22 vs. 36%, P<0.005) or venous (13 vs. 26%, P<0.005) origin.
                Amnioinfusion improved fetal heart rate pattern, lowered the incidence of operative delivery, and improved neonatal acid-base status in term labor complicated by low amniotic fluid due to vaginal loss. Pregnancies with decreased amniotic fluid volume are prediposed to umbilical cord compression and variable fetal heart rate declerations. Intrapartum amnioinfusion has been utilized in an effort to reduce cord compression. Previous studies suggested that amnioinfusion may improve the fetal metabolic state and reduce the incidence of cesarean delivery in selected patients. In this study the hypothesis was tested that intrapartum amnioinfusion will relieve cord compression in pregnancies complicated by oligohydramnios and will result in a reduced incidence of fetal intolerance to labor as well as improved fetal acid-base status at delivery. Thirty-five patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were randomized to either the control (n = 16) or amnioinfusion treatment group (n = 19). Analysis of the data suggested that the two groups were similar for the perinatal parameters evaluated. No differences were observed in the umbilical artery blood gas analysis or incidence of cesarean section between the two groups. Intrapartum amnioinfusion does not appear to improve the perinatal outcome in pregnancies with oligohydramnios. Patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes are at increased risk to develop intrapartum variable decelerations and fetal distress. Short-term saline solution amnioinfusion may be of benefit in the treatment of variable or prolonged decelerations once they appear. In an effort to assess the benefit of prophylactic amnioinfusion, patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes were studied during a 1-year period in a prospective randomized manner. Patients receiving prophylactic amnioinfusion had significantly decreased incidence and severity of variable decelerations in the first stage of labor (p less than 0.005). In the second stage of labor, the incidence of severe (p less than 0.005) and total (p less than 0.001) decelerations was also decreased in the treatment group. The umbilical arterial pH at delivery was significantly lower (p less than 0.001) as was the umbilical venous pH (p less than 0.005) in the newborn infants of control patients compared with those of patients receiving amnioinfusion. This suggests that prophylactic intrapartum amnioinfusion is of significant benefit in reducing the incidence of variable decelerations and improving the metabolic state in newborn infants born to women with preterm premature rupture of the membranes. Amnioinfusion was performed in a prospective, randomized trial of 60 women in the latent phase of labor with oligohydramnios, as defined by an amniotic fluid index less than or equal to 5.0 cm. All fetuses were at least 37 weeks' gestational age, had normal baseline fetal heart rate variability, and no clinically significant fetal heart rate decelerations at the outset. Subjects in the amnioinfusion group (n = 30) were titrated to and maintained at an amniotic fluid index level greater than or equal to 8.0 cm throughout labor. In the group receiving amnioinfusion, significantly lower rates of meconium passage (p = 0.04), severe variable decelerations (p = 0.04), end-stage bradycardia (p = 0.05), and operative delivery for fetal distress (p = 0.002) occurred. Significantly higher umbilical arterial blood pH values were also noted in the infusion group (p = 0.02). We conclude that prophylactic intrapartum amnioinfusion is an important technique for the reduction of intrapartum morbidity. We performed a prospective randomized study of saline solution amnioinfusion in four types of pregnancy complications: postterm pregnancy, variable decelerations in labor, preterm labor, and oligohydramnios-suspected growth retardation. A total of 100 patients were randomized, 43 to undergo amnioinfusion and 57 to be in a control group. Patients undergoing amnioinfusion had a significantly decreased incidence of postpartum endometritis (2.4% vs 19%, p = 0.01) and a lower incidence of cesarean delivery that was due to fetal distress in labor (4.7% vs 16%, p = 0.07). The use of amnioinfusion also made a significant contribution to the four-quadrant ultrasonographic estimate of amniotic fluid volume (14.7 vs 9.8 cm, p less than 0.001). All other maternal and neonatal outcome parameters were similar between the two groups. We conclude that saline solution amnioinfusion in labor may be a beneficial procedure but that further studies are needed. To evaluate the effects of amnioinfusion in oligohydramniosis.
                During a 20-month period, patients at term with oligohydramniosis (amniotic fluid index less than 5 cm) at Huddinge University and Norrköping Hospitals were recruited for a prospective randomized study to evaluate amnioinfusion. Informed consent was obtained from 112 patients who met the entry criteria. Sixty subjects were randomized to amnioinfusion and 52 to the control group. Outcome parameters included fetal heart rate abnormalities, mode of delivery, Apgar score, pH in umbilical artery blood and need for neonatal intensive care.
                The cesarean section rate was significantly reduced in the amnio-infusion group (29% versus 13%, p=0.043). No difference in time from randomization to delivery was detected between the two groups. The frequency of ominous fetal heart rate tracings with a cervical dilatation of 0-3 cm was the same in the two groups. The frequency of such heart rate patterns after amnioinfusion was significantly lower than in the control group. Neonatal outcome, pH in the umbilical artery blood and need for neonatal intensive care did not differ between the two groups.
                The present study confirms the findings of other authors that amnioinfusion effectively reduces the number of cesarean sections in cases of oligohydramniosis.
The use of amnioinfusion for potential or suspected umbilical cord compression may be of considerable benefit to mother and baby by reducing the occurrence of variable FHR decelerations, improving short-term measures of neonatal outcome, reducing maternal postpartum endometritis and lowering the use of caesarean section, although there were methodological limitations to the trials reviewed here. In addition, the trials are too small to address the possibility of rare but serious maternal adverse effects of amnioinfusion. More research is needed to confirm the findings, assess longer-term measures of fetal outcome, and to assess the impact on caesarean section rates when the diagnosis of fetal distress is more stringent. Trials should assess amnioinfusion in specific clinical situations, such as FHR decelerations, oligohydramnios or prelabour rupture of membranes.