A Randomized Clinical Trial on the Analgesic Effects of Continuous Low-Dose Oxytocin Infusion After Cesarean Section Performed with Spinal Anesthesia

Abstract

Background: Postoperative pain management is a significant concern following cesarean sections, as effective analgesia is crucial for promoting breastfeeding and enhancing maternal satisfaction. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the pain-relieving effects of continuous oxytocin infusion in a randomized double-blind trial. Methods: We enrolled patients scheduled for cesarean sections under spinal anesthesia. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups: The control group received standard care, while the intervention group received an infusion of ten units of oxytocin per liter of serum for 24 hours post-surgery (totaling 30 units). We assessed vital signs, pain severity, analgesic requests, and the incidence of adverse effects, comparing outcomes between the groups. Categorical variables were assessed using the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, while quantitative variables were compared using the Student’s t-test or Mann-Whitney test (if nonparametric). Significance was set at P < 0.05. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS V 27. Results: Ultimately, the analysis included 103 patients, of whom 55 were in the intervention group and 48 were in the control group. Twenty-four hours after surgery, the intervention group’s mean heart rate (HR) was significantly lower (P = 0.027). Additionally, the intervention group demonstrated fewer pain medication requests (P < 0.001) and significantly reduced diclofenac usage (P = 0.001). Side effects showed no significant differences between groups; mild nausea (25.5% intervention vs. 14.6% control, P = 0.576), vomiting (7.3% vs. 2.1%, P = 0.369), headache (9.1% vs. 4.2%, P = 0.445), and antiemetic use (27.3% vs. 12.5%, P = 0.063) were comparable, though the intervention group trended toward higher mild nausea and antiemetic use. Conclusions: Low-dose oxytocin infusion following cesarean section under spinal anesthesia effectively reduces analgesic requests while presenting comparable adverse effects to standard care.