Amnioinfusion does not affect the length of labor.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to determine whether amnioinfusion prolongs or shortens the length of labor in patients who have an accepted indication for amnioinfusion.

STUDY

DESIGN

We performed a retrospective post hoc analysis of the length of labor of 437 patients who were enrolled in three prospective, randomized, controlled studies of amnioinfusion.

RESULTS

The length of labor was not significantly different for patients who received amnioinfusion compared with those who did not receive amnioinfusion (control group). Among the subgroup with vaginal delivery, the duration of labor after amnioinfusion did not differ from the duration of labor among the controls. The length of labor (mean +/- SD, in hours) for the amnioinfusion group was 9.3 +/- 6.3 versus 10.6 +/- 6.9 for the control groups (p not significant). Among the subgroup that required cesarean delivery, the duration of labor after amnioinfusion did not differ from the duration of labor among the controls. The length of labor (mean +/- SD, in hours) in patients requiring cesarean delivery in the amnioinfusion group was 11.1 +/- 6.3 versus 13.0 +/- 7.5 for the control group (p not significant).

CONCLUSION

Amnioinfusion does not prolong or shorten the length of labor among patients who have an accepted indication for the treatment.