Do oxytocin or carbetocin cause any significant changes in the electrocardiogram (ECG) during cesarean section?
Label:chem
Topic
Both oxytocin and its long-acting synthetic analogue carbetocin are routinely used to induce uterine contraction after delivery during cesarean section. Concerns exist because these agents can induce cardiovascular effects such as tachycardia, hypotension and possible myocardial ischaemia, which could manifest on the ECG.
Answer
In a prospective study of 70 healthy women undergoing elective cesarean section (34 receiving 5 IU oxytocin vs 36 receiving 100 µg carbetocin), continuous Holter-ECG monitoring from 30 min before until ~3 h after the procedure revealed no significant differences between groups in heart-rate extremes, incidence or depth/duration of ST-segment depression, or frequency of additional ventricular beats. The authors conclude that, at the doses used, neither oxytocin nor carbetocin is associated with clinically relevant ECG changes in otherwise healthy parturients.
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