Best practice implementation strategy for the use of oxytocin during labour

Abstract

Intravenous (IV) Oxytocin (OT) was included in the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) 1 list of ‘High Alert Medications’ in 2007, a nomenclature which is reserved to only 11 other specific drugs; and given a Black Box warning by the Food and Drug Administration. Studies indicate lack of standardisation of the use of this high alert drug for induction- (IOL) or augmentation of labour (AOL) particularly in the domains involving dose, concentration, rate, and duration of infusion , increasing the propensity for patient harm.