OBSTETRICS Haemodynamic effects of repeated doses of oxytocin during Caesarean delivery in healthy parturients

Results. Twenty women required a second bolus of oxytocin 5 u. Both the first and the second doses produced clinically and statistically significant haemodynamic changes, but the haemodynamic changes induced by the second dose were smaller than after the first dose. The mean maximal change in CO after the first and second doses were 94% (CI 70–117) and 42% (CI 33–52), respectively (P,0.0001), and for systolic arterial pressure 31% (CI 27–35) and 23% (CI 20–27), respectively (P1⁄40.003).