In-vitro Study to Assess the Coagulation Effects of Exogenous Oxytocin Using Thromboelastography.

Stanford University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Anesthesia

Treatments: Drug: Final exogenous oxytocin concentration=30.1μU/mL; Drug: Final exogenous oxytocin concentration=32.9μU/mL; Drug: Final exogenous oxytocin concentration=22.5 μU/mL

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00788255

SU-10242008-1327

Details and patient eligibility

About

Oxytocin is normally administered following delivery in pregnant patients to reduce postpartum bleeding by increasing uterine tone. It is unclear whether the use of intravenous oxytocin alters coagulation in pregnant patients. The purpose of the in-vitro study is to assess the coagulation changes of oxytocin in blood samples from pregnant patients using thromboelastrography (TEG). TEG is a point-of-care device which measures the viscoelastic properties of clot formation, and can provide rapid and detailed information about coagulation changes. We aim to collect blood samples from pregnant patients to assess the in-vitro effects of synthetic oxytocin on coagulation using TEG.

Full description

All obstetric patients presenting for elective induction of labor or elective Cesarean delivery will be informed about the study prior to and on admission to the labor and delivery unit. Admission blood sampling will take place by venepuncture for the following analysis:TEG, PT, PTT, INR, Hct, Platelet count.The results of oxytocin influence on thromboelastogram parameters will be compared to a control. The control is an aliquot of parturient blood with no added oxytocin. Thromboelastography will be used to assess coagulation changes between control samples and blood samples with added oxytocin. The results will not be used to influence clinical management of any case.

Enrollment: 25 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:All obstetric patients with singleton pregnancies admitted to the labor and delivery unit at Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital awaiting elective induction of labor or elective Cesarean delivery. We will select 25 healthy ASA 1 patients with singleton pregnancies who are scheduled for uncomplicated elective induction of labor. Gestational age equal to or greater than 37 weeks.

Exclusion Criteria:Patients with underlying coagulation disorders. Patients with thrombocytopenia. Patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension, pre-eclampsia. Patients admitted for non-elective cesarean section. Patients in active labor. Patients requiring the following medications prior to surgery: NSAIDS, aspirin, anticoagulants.

Patients with significant obstetric or medical disease. No patients <18 years of age will be recruited.

Trial design

25 participants in 1 patient group

All participants

Description:

For each patient, 1 solution with citrated whole blood (control) and 3 solutions with citrated whole blood and exogenous oxytocin were prepared in separate vials using micropipettes as follows: Citrated whole blood 1mL + 23μU oxytocin: final exogenous oxytocin concentration=22.5 μU/mL Citrated whole blood 1mL + 31μU oxytocin: final exogenous oxytocin concentration=30.1μU/mL Citrated whole blood 1mL + 34μU oxytocin: final exogenous oxytocin concentration=32.9μU/mL After mixing by inversion 8-10 times, 360μL kaolin-activated blood of each study solution was pipetted into a plastic cup in a prewarmed Thromboelastograph® (37°C). Each sample was recalcified in a plastic cup with 10μL of CaCl2 6.45%, and TEG® analysis was commenced within 1 minute of reconstituted sample preparation.

Treatment:

Drug: Final exogenous oxytocin concentration=22.5 μU/mL

Drug: Final exogenous oxytocin concentration=32.9μU/mL

Drug: Final exogenous oxytocin concentration=30.1μU/mL