[Amnioinfusion or not during labor? Better documentation and more trials can answer the question].

Intrapartal amnio-infusion has been described as a means of reducing the risk of fetal distress, as well as the Caesarean section rate among cases of oligohydramnios accompanied by CTG (cardiotocography) signs of cord compression. Among cases complicated by the presence of thick, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, dilution by amino-infusion has been shown to reduce the prevalence of meconium below the vocal cords, and of meconium aspiration syndrome in the newborn. A questionnaire concerning experience of the method, answered by 98% (61/62) of delivery wards in the country, showed Swedish obstetricians to be generally in favour of the procedure which they considered beneficial. However, as many of the wards had had very few cases, obstetricians answering the questionnaire felt that there was a need of guidelines and better prospective clinical studies.