ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT02487797Updated Feb 11, 2022Results posted

Comparison of Low-dose and High-dose Oxytocin Regimens for Labor Augmentation

A Phase 4 interventional study of Oxytocin and Sodium Chloride 0.9% in Dystocia, sponsored by Northwestern University. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 45 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-02-11.

Sponsored by Northwestern University · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
1,003
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 45 Years
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

Oxytocin is a medication that is often used to strengthen contractions to overcome delayed labor progress. The primary aim of this study is to determine whether receiving a higher dose of oxytocin lowers the chance of needing a cesarean section when compared to a lower dose of oxytocin. Other aims include examining the relationship between dose of oxytocin regimen and length of labor, postpartum hemorrhage, intrauterine infection, umbilical cord gas, neonatal Apgar score \<5 at 5 minutes, and need for neonatal intensive care.

Read the detailed description

This randomized double blind clinical trial of consenting nulliparous women in spontaneous labor who require oxytocin for labor augmentation seeks to determine whether use of a high dose oxytocin regimen improves obstetric outcomes when compared with a low dose oxytocin regimen, in a manner that is safe for both mother and neonate.

This project will include 1002 women recruited from the obstetrical service at Prentice Women's Hospital. Women will be included if they are at least 36 weeks gestation, have a singleton pregnancy, and have been diagnosed with spontaneous labor or spontaneous rupture of membranes. Women will be exposed to oxytocin for the indication of labor augmentation at the discretion of their obstetric provider.

Women will be randomized with equal probability to intervention group using a fixed allocation procedure. To maintain a double blind design, the Prentice Women's Hospital pharmacy will carry out the randomization of oxytocin solutions according to the random assignment so that neither the women or their care providers nor the investigators will know the identity of the intervention assignment. The low-dose oxytocin regimen group will receive a starting oxytocin regimen concentration rate of 2 milliunits/minute that can be increased at increments of 2 milliunits/minute, as per the discretion of their obstetric provider. The high-dose oxytocin regimen group will receive a starting oxytocin regimen concentration rate of 6 milliunits/minute that can be increased at increments of 6 milliunits/minute, as per the discretion of their obstetric provider.

Once the women are enrolled, randomized, and in receipt of their assigned interventions, further clinical management will be left to the discretion of each woman's obstetric provider.

Prior to discharge from the hospital, baseline demographic and clinical data will be obtained via chart review.

02

Conditions studied

  • Dystocia

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03

In context

Dystocia

55 studies on the registry are indexed under Dystocia; 12 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 1,003 is above the median of 200 across 42 interventional studies indexed under Dystocia.

Browse Dystocia studies →

Lead sponsor

Northwestern University is the lead sponsor of 1,423 studies on the registry; 198 are open to participants now.

Of its 105 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 78 (74%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 45 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Able to give informed written consent
  • Age 18-45 years
  • Nulliparous
  • Pregnant with a live singleton gestation that is equal to or greater than 36 weeks
  • Diagnosed with at least 6 regular uterine contractions in an observation period of no more than 60 minutes and at least one of the following: spontaneous rupture of membranes, OR cervix greater than or equal to 3 centimeters dilated OR cervix at least 80% effaced.
  • The participant's attending obstetric physician or midwife has determined that the participant needs administration of oxytocin infusion for labor augmentation. Labor augmentation will be defined as stimulation of uterine contractions when spontaneous contractions have failed to result in progressive cervical dilation of descent of fetus.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Women not meeting the above criteria
  • History of prior cesarean section or uterine surgery
  • Fetus in non-cephalic presentation
  • Participant is undergoing labor induction (i.e. cervical ripening)
  • Non-English speaking
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
1,003 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    High dose oxytocin regimen

    The oxytocin solution will be prepared using 90 units of oxytocin in 500 milliliters of normal saline (sodium chloride 0.9%). The oxytocin infusion will be initiated with a starting oxytocin concentration rate of 6 milliunits/minute (volume rate 2 milliliters/hour) that can be increased at increments of 6 milliunits/minute (volume rate 2 milliliters/hour) every 15-30 minutes until a labor pattern with uterine contractions every 2-3 minutes of moderate to strong intensity is established.

    Drug: Oxytocin · Other: Sodium Chloride 0.9%

  • Active comparator
    Low dose oxytocin regimen

    The oxytocin solution will be prepared using 30 units of oxytocin in 500 milliliters of normal saline (sodium chloride 0.9%). The oxytocin infusion will be initiated with a starting oxytocin concentration rate of 2 milliunits/minute (volume rate 2 milliliters/hour) that can be increased at increments of 2 milliunits/minute (volume rate 2 milliliters/hour) every 15-30 minutes until a labor pattern with uterine contractions every 2-3 minutes of moderate to strong intensity is established.

    Drug: Oxytocin · Other: Sodium Chloride 0.9%

Interventions

  • Also known as: Pitocin

  • OtherSodium Chloride 0.9%

    Also known as: Normal Saline

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants Delivered by Cesarean

    Number of participants delivered by cesarean section

    Time frame: At time of delivery

Secondary outcomes

  1. Labor Augmentation Duration

    Time from randomization to delivery

    Time frame: Number of hours from randomization to delivery

  2. Number of Participants With Postpartum Hemorrhage

    Estimated blood loss greater than 500 milliliters after a vaginal delivery or greater than 1000 milliliters after a cesarean delivery

    Time frame: From date of delivery to date of hospital discharge, an expected average of 3 days

  3. Number of Participants With Intrapartum Chorioamnionitis

    Fever greater than 100.4 Fahrenheit in the intrapartum period with the initiation of a therapeutic antibiotic regimen in the intrapartum period

    Time frame: From time of labor admission to time of delivery, an expected average of 24 to 48 hours

  4. Number of Participants With Postpartum Endometritis

    Fever greater than 100.4 Fahrenheit in the postpartum period with the initiation of a therapeutic antibiotic regimen in the postpartum period

    Time frame: From time of delivery to time of hospital discharge, an expected average of 3 days

  5. Number of Participants Whose Offspring Experiences a Perinatal Death

    Perinatal death includes intrapartum stillbirth and neonatal death

    Time frame: Study enrollment to delivery (if intrapartum stillbirth) or 28 days of life (if liveborn)

  6. Number of Participants With Umbilical Cord Acidemia

    Umbilical cord arterial blood pH less than 7.0 or base deficit greater than 12 mmol/L; or cord venous blood pH less than 7.0 or base deficit greater than 12 mmol/L when umbilical artery values are not available

    Time frame: At time of delivery

  7. Neonatal Apgar Score of Less Than 3 at 5 Minutes of Life

    Number of participants with neonates with Apgar score of less than 3 at 5 minutes of life. This is using a Apgar scale which ranges from minimum total score of 0 and maximum total score of 10, with higher score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: Delivery through 5 minutes of life

  8. Admission to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

    Number of participants whose neonates are admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

    Time frame: Delivery to 28 days of life

  9. Number of Participants Whose Neonates Experience a Composite of Severe Neonatal Morbidity and Perinatal Mortality

    Neonatal composite morbidity will be defined as occurrence of any of the following: perinatal death, severe, respiratory distress, major birth injury, encephalopathy, seizure, need for hypothermic treatment, or sepsis

    Time frame: Delivery to 28 days of life

07

Results

Posted Feb 11, 2022

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneHigh Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin Regimen
Started502501
Completed502501
Not completed00

Outcome measures

PrimaryNumber of Participants Delivered by Cesarean

Number of participants delivered by cesarean section

Time frame:
At time of delivery
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants Delivered by Cesarean
ParticipantsHigh Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin Regimen
Number of Participants Delivered by Cesarean7372
SecondaryLabor Augmentation Duration

Time from randomization to delivery

Time frame:
Number of hours from randomization to delivery
Reported as:
Mean · hours
Labor Augmentation Duration
hoursHigh Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin Regimen
Labor Augmentation Duration9.1 ± 5.610.5 ± 7.0
SecondaryNumber of Participants With Postpartum Hemorrhage

Estimated blood loss greater than 500 milliliters after a vaginal delivery or greater than 1000 milliliters after a cesarean delivery

Time frame:
From date of delivery to date of hospital discharge, an expected average of 3 days
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants With Postpartum Hemorrhage
ParticipantsHigh Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin Regimen
Number of Participants With Postpartum Hemorrhage2923
SecondaryNumber of Participants With Intrapartum Chorioamnionitis

Fever greater than 100.4 Fahrenheit in the intrapartum period with the initiation of a therapeutic antibiotic regimen in the intrapartum period

Time frame:
From time of labor admission to time of delivery, an expected average of 24 to 48 hours
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants With Intrapartum Chorioamnionitis
ParticipantsHigh Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin Regimen
Number of Participants With Intrapartum Chorioamnionitis5278
SecondaryNumber of Participants With Postpartum Endometritis

Fever greater than 100.4 Fahrenheit in the postpartum period with the initiation of a therapeutic antibiotic regimen in the postpartum period

Time frame:
From time of delivery to time of hospital discharge, an expected average of 3 days
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants With Postpartum Endometritis
ParticipantsHigh Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin Regimen
Number of Participants With Postpartum Endometritis35
SecondaryNumber of Participants Whose Offspring Experiences a Perinatal Death

Perinatal death includes intrapartum stillbirth and neonatal death

Time frame:
Study enrollment to delivery (if intrapartum stillbirth) or 28 days of life (if liveborn)
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants Whose Offspring Experiences a Perinatal Death
ParticipantsHigh Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin Regimen
Number of Participants Whose Offspring Experiences a Perinatal Death00
SecondaryNumber of Participants With Umbilical Cord Acidemia

Umbilical cord arterial blood pH less than 7.0 or base deficit greater than 12 mmol/L; or cord venous blood pH less than 7.0 or base deficit greater than 12 mmol/L when umbilical artery values are not available

Time frame:
At time of delivery
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants With Umbilical Cord Acidemia
ParticipantsHigh Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin Regimen
Number of Participants With Umbilical Cord Acidemia1427
SecondaryNeonatal Apgar Score of Less Than 3 at 5 Minutes of Life

Number of participants with neonates with Apgar score of less than 3 at 5 minutes of life. This is using a Apgar scale which ranges from minimum total score of 0 and maximum total score of 10, with higher score representing a better outcome.

Time frame:
Delivery through 5 minutes of life
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Neonatal Apgar Score of Less Than 3 at 5 Minutes of Life
ParticipantsHigh Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin Regimen
Neonatal Apgar Score of Less Than 3 at 5 Minutes of Life34
SecondaryAdmission to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Number of participants whose neonates are admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Time frame:
Delivery to 28 days of life
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Admission to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
ParticipantsHigh Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin Regimen
Admission to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit2933
SecondaryNumber of Participants Whose Neonates Experience a Composite of Severe Neonatal Morbidity and Perinatal Mortality

Neonatal composite morbidity will be defined as occurrence of any of the following: perinatal death, severe, respiratory distress, major birth injury, encephalopathy, seizure, need for hypothermic treatment, or sepsis

Time frame:
Delivery to 28 days of life
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants Whose Neonates Experience a Composite of Severe Neonatal Morbidity and Perinatal Mortality
ParticipantsHigh Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin Regimen
Number of Participants Whose Neonates Experience a Composite of Severe Neonatal Morbidity and Perinatal Mortality57

Adverse events

Collected over Maternal adverse events were monitored from study enrollment until delivery hospitalization discharge, typically up to 5 days. Neonatal outcomes were monitored from birth until birth hospitalization discharge or 28 days of life, whichever came first.. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
High Dose Oxytocin Regimen0/502 (0%)0/502 (0%)0/502 (0%)
Low Dose Oxytocin Regimen0/501 (0%)0/501 (0%)0/501 (0%)

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)High Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin RegimenTotal
Mean31.5 ± 4.431.7 ± 4.331.6 ± 4.4
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)High Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin RegimenTotal
Female5025011003
Male000
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity, Customized(Participants)High Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin RegimenTotal
White332342674
Black364480
Hispanic or Latina272653
Asian or Pacific Islander424789
Other, unknown, or more than one race6542107
Married or living with a partner
Married or living with a partner(Participants)High Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin RegimenTotal
Count of participants396409805
Insurance type
Insurance type(Participants)High Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin RegimenTotal
Commercial435442877
Government6659125
Uninsured101
Body mass index at trial entry
Body mass index at trial entry(kg/m^2)High Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin RegimenTotal
Median28.8 (26.4 to 32.0)29.9 (26.9 to 32.8)29.2 (26.6 to 32.5)
Gestational or pre-gestational diabetes
Gestational or pre-gestational diabetes(Participants)High Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin RegimenTotal
Count of participants121527
Chronic hypertension
Chronic hypertension(Participants)High Dose Oxytocin RegimenLow Dose Oxytocin RegimenTotal
Count of participants6410

9 further baseline measures are reported on the registry.

08

Study locations

1 site
  • Northwestern Memorial Hospital
    Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Son M, Roy A, Stetson BT, Grady NT, Vanecko MC, Bond N, Swanson K, Grobman WA, Miller ES, Peaceman AM. High-Dose Compared With Standard-Dose Oxytocin Regimens to Augment Labor in Nulliparous Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Jun 1;137(6):991-998. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004399. PubMed 33957657 ↗

Study documents

PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.

10

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from Sep 2015 to primary completion in Sep 2020, 59 months.

Results were first posted in Feb 2022, 1 year 5 months after primary completion.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Jun 9, 2015
First posted
Jul 1, 2015
StartActual
Sep 28, 2015
Primary completionActual
Sep 1, 2020
CompletionActual
Sep 28, 2020
Results first posted
Feb 11, 2022
Last update
Feb 11, 2022
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Feb 11, 2022, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02487797
Responsible party
Moeun Son (Assistant Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology - Maternal Fetal Medicine, Northwestern University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jul 1, 2015
Start date
Sep 28, 2015
Primary completion
Sep 1, 2020
Completion
Sep 28, 2020
Results posted
Feb 11, 2022
Last update
Feb 11, 2022

Study contacts

Moeun Son, MD, MSCI
principal investigator · Northwestern University
Alan Peaceman, MD
principal investigator · Northwestern University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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