The Effect of Oral Propranolol plus Oxytocin Versus Oxytocin alone on Induction and Outcome of Labor.

Background: Labor is a state of uterine contractions having adequate frequency, duration, and strength resulting in cervical effacement and dilatation. Prolonged labor could cause maternal and neonatal medical issues and these unfavorable labor clinical outcomes are elevated in prolonged gestations in comparison with term pregnancies. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of oral propranolol supplementary agent to oxytocin on Induction and Outcome of Labor and compare it with the control group (oxytocin alone). Patients and methods: This was a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial which was conducted in Zagazig University Hospital and Zagazig General Hospital in the period between January 2021 and December 2021 to compare the efficacy of propranolol and oxytocin vs. oxytocin alone for induction of labor at 38-41 week gestational age. The study was conducted on 106 pregnant women; divided into two groups each group contain 53 pregnant women. Results: Duration of Latent Phase and Duration of 3rd stage was significantly shorter among study group but there was no significance difference in duration of active phase and 2nd stage between two groups. Dose of Oxytocin at which sufficient contractions occurred (3 contractions per 10 minutes) was significantly lower among the study group than the control group. Normal vaginal delivery was more frequent among the study group than among the control group: 41 cases (77.4%) versus 32 controls (60.4%). Cesarean section mode was less in the study group than the control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: Administration of oral propranolol combined with oxytocin during latent phase of labor is an effective agent in shortening the labor duration and decreasing the rate of cesarean section with no considerable side effects neither to the mother nor to her newborn has been recorded during the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]