A study to compare the effectiveness of intravenous oxytocin with intramuscular oxytocin given at the third stage of labour at preventing bleeding at vaginal birth
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN14718882 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN14718882 |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | 2012-003352-36 |
| Protocol serial number | 012012 |
| Sponsor | Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital |
| Funders | Trinity College Dublin, The Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital |
- Submission date
- 14/12/2015
- Registration date
- 04/01/2016
- Last edited
- 20/03/2019
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Pregnancy and Childbirth
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Vaginal birth (delivery of a baby through the vagina without medical assistance) is the natural way for a baby to be born. This type of childbirth is made up of three distinct stages. The first is where the body prepares for the birth (contractions cause the cervix to dilate), the second is where the baby is actually born (passing through the cervix and out of the body) and the third is where the placenta (the organ which connects the mother’s blood supply to the baby’s via the umbilical cord, providing the baby with food and oxygen) is delivered. During the third stage of labour, bleeding is not uncommon and so medical teams often actively manage this stage to prevent a woman from losing too much blood. After the baby is born, a hormone called oxytocin acts to keep the contractions going so that the placenta can be delivered and any blood vessels attached to it can be closed off, preventing excessive bleeding (postpartum haemorrhage). By giving the woman an injection containing artificial oxytocin, it can help speed up the delivery of the placenta and prevent excess bleeding. This injection can be given a number of ways, such as directly into the bloodstream or into muscle, however it is not known which is the most effective. The aim of this study is to find out the most effective technique of giving oxytocin to women in labour to prevent bleeding.
Who can participate?
Women who have been pregnant for more than 36 weeks with one baby, who are expected to have a vaginal delivery.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Participants in both groups receive two injections (the drug and a dummy) in order to ensure that the way the drug is given is kept secret. Participants in the first group receive an intramuscular injection (injection directly into the muscle) of 1ml oxytocin, and a dummy (placebo) intravenous injection (injection directly into a vein) of 1ml normal saline (salt water). Participants in the second group receive an intravenous injection of 1ml oxytocin and a placebo injection of 1ml normal saline. Following delivery, all participants’ medical notes are reviewed in order to find out how many experienced postpartum haemorrhage. Participants in both groups also have a blood sample taken before delivery and 24 hours after delivery in order to measure any changes in the amount of haemoglobin (iron-containing oxygen-carrying part of red blood cells).
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration
Where is the study run from?
Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital (Ireland)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2012 to October 2017
Who is funding the study?
1. Trinity College Dublin (Ireland)
2. Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital (Ireland)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Francesco Pagnini
Contact information
Scientific
Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Trinity College Dublin
Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital
Dolphins Barn
Dublin
Dublin 8
Ireland
Public
Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Trinity College Dublin
Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital
Dolphins Barn
Dublin
Dublin 8
Ireland
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Single-centre double-blind randomised controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Intramuscular oxytocin versus intravenous oxytocin to prevent haemorrhage at vaginal delivery - A randomised controlled trial |
| Study acronym | LabOR Trial (Labour Oxytocin Randomised Trial) |
| Study objectives | Intravenous oxytocin used at vaginal delivery will reduce the risk of postpartum haemorrhage compared to intramuscular oxytocin. |
| Ethics approval(s) | 1. Research Ethics Committee of National Maternity Hospital, 29/06/2015 2. Research Ethics Committee of Commbe Women and Infants University Hospital, 30/10/2015, ref: 26-2015 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Postpartum haemorrhage following vaginal delivery |
| Intervention | Participants will be randomised into one of two study arms: Arm one: Participants will receive 1ml 10IU oxytocin intramuscularly and 1ml 0.9% normal saline as placebo intravenously immediately after the delivery of the baby and before the delivery of the placenta at vaginal delivery. Arm two: Participants will receive 1ml 10IU oxytocin intravenously and 1ml 0.9% normal saline as placebo intramuscularly immediately after the delivery of the baby and before the delivery of the placenta at vaginal delivery. The blood loss following normal vaginal delivery will be measured using gravimetric method. The blood loss would be estimated by weighing all the soiled materials on a scale and subtracting the known weights of these materials to determine the blood loss. For women who have an assisted vaginal delivery, Comfy Guard ® (a surgical drape with a pouch for collecting vaginal blood loss) will be placed under the woman’s buttocks in preparation for birth and before delivery of the placenta. The blood collected in the drape will be transferred to a measuring jar with calibrations. Blood-soaked swabs and drapes will be weighed and the known dry weight of the swabs and drapes will be subtracted. This volume will be added to the measured blood volume from the drape.The measured blood loss is recorded in the participant’s medical notes by the attending midwife. Maternal vital signs will be measured after delivery and before transfer to the postnatal ward, which are recorded in the medical notes. The occurrence of side effects will be recorded using an observation form. Follow-up: A full blood count will be performed at day 1 after delivery to assess haemoglobin and haematocrit. Data will be collected in duplicate on a case report form (CRF) by reviewing patient’s/participant’s medical notes after the delivery and prior to discharge from the hospital. |
| Intervention type | Drug |
| Phase | Not Applicable |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Syntocinon |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Incidence of primary postpartum haemorrhage (> 500ml) following intramuscular oxytocin compared with intravenous oxytocin is determined by reviewing participant’s medical notes and data collected in a case report form (CRF) 24 hours post-delivery. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Incidence of side effects following administration of oxytocin (headache, vomiting) is determined by reviewing an observation sheet that the attending midwife are required to fill within 30 minutes of delivery and oxytocin administration. The vital signs which are taken after delivery and prior to transfer to the postnatal ward are recorded in the medical notes. Occurrence of hypotension, tachycardia are recorded in the CRF by reviewing the medical notes. |
| Completion date | 30/01/2018 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Target sample size at registration | 1000 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Aged 18 or over 2. Female participants only 3. Singleton pregnancy at more than 36 weeks gestation 4. Those anticipated to have a vaginal delivery |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Women who opted for physiological management of the third stage of labour 2. Those who have an antenatal decision for 40IU oxytocin infusion prophylactically following a vaginal delivery 3. Those whom the clinician has a preferred route of administering prophylactic oxytocin for the third stage of labour 4. Those who are deemed to be at risk of postpartum haemorrhage - Previous history of atonic primary postpartum haemorrhage, multiple fibroids, coagulation disorders, thrombocytopenia and receiving anticoagulants 5. Those with previous cardiovascular disorder |
| Date of first enrolment | 04/01/2016 |
| Date of final enrolment | 13/12/2017 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Ireland
Study participating centre
Dublin
Dublin 8
Ireland
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Other |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 04/09/2018 | 20/03/2019 | Yes | No |
| Protocol article | protocol | 15/11/2017 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
20/03/2019: Publication reference added.
24/04/2018: The recruitment dates are as follows:
Pilot phase: 12/12/2015 to 01/01/2016
Main trial: 04/01/2016 to 13/12/2017
The recruitment dates in the record now reflect the main trial. The overall trial end date was also changed from 30/10/2017 to 30/01/2018.
20/11/2017: Publication reference added.
