NHS issues urgent safety alert over common drug after 25 serious incidents and baby death --[Reported by Umva mag]

NHS OFFICIALS have issued a national safety alert after reported overdoses of a common drug used in labour and after childbirth. Oxytocin is a hormone used to stimulate contractions during labour, and higher doses are administered to manage postpartum bleeding. GettyA patient safety alert has been issued after cases of oxytocin overdose have been reported[/caption] But accidental administration of a postnatal dose of oxytocin during the birth of the baby can lead to “significant harm” to mother and baby, NHS officials said. NHS officials say 25 oxytocin overdose incidents have been reported in the last five years. Some include incidents in which oxytocin infusions and IV fluids were “confused”, leading to oxytocin “running through freely or at a significantly increased rate during labour”. The patient safety alert describes one case in which a baby was sent to intensive care after an incident. “A woman (received) a pre-prepared postpartum oxytocin infusion in place of IV fluids while in labour,” the alert states. “The baby’s heart rate slowed, and the woman required an emergency caesarean section due to a placental abruption. “The baby was born in poor condition and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for close monitoring.” Other reports described include postpartum oxytocin accidentally given during labour or in theatre before a caesarean section. Meanwhile, baby Harry Richford died during childbirth after his mum was given oxytocin during childbirth. An inquest into his death determined he was put under stress due to excessive use of an anaesthetic form of oxytocin called syntonic, which led to brain damage. The alert has been issued by NHS England’s national patient safety team and endorsed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Anaesthetists. It calls for maternity providers to stop pre-preparing oxytocin infusions at ward level, in all clinical areas, including delivery suites and theatres. To minimise any potential risks of delayed treatment of excessive bleeding after birth, post-partum haemorrhage kits or trolleys should be made available in all clinical areas, the alert adds. It comes after an inquest into the three babies’ deaths began at Southwark Coroner’s Court earlier this month. A total of 19 babies were infected with bacteria after having baby feed pumped into their bloodstream – because they were unable to feed on their own – between May 27 and June 2, 2014. What is oxytocin? And how is it used in childbirth? Oxytocin is a natural hormone that has an important role in many human behaviours and social interactions, including: Sexual arousal Allowing people to recognise each other Promoting trust Building relationships and romantic attachment Promoting parent-infant bonding It also plays an important role in birth and breastfeeding. Here, its two main roles are to stimulate contractions of the uterus in labour and to stimulate the flow of breast milk after childbirth. Oxytocin builds during labour making the uterus contract more frequently, more effectively and with more intensity. Oxytocin is essential for labour to progress. Sometimes oxytocin is given as a medicine to help start or strengthen your contractions. It is also used to help your placenta to be delivered or to help your womb contract after childbirth to prevent or stop heavy bleeding. Having oxytocin is not suitable in all situations – your doctor will give you more information if oxytocin is right for you. Too much oxytocin in labour can cause the uterus to contract too much. This is particularly true if you have certain risk factors, such as diabetes abnormal glucose levels during pregnancy or heart problems. Because of this, your health team will monitor you carefully if they give you oxytocin in labour. Source: Health Direct + NHS

Oct 4, 2024 - 17:54

NHS issues urgent safety alert over common drug after 25 serious incidents and baby death --[Reported by Umva mag]

NHS OFFICIALS have issued a national safety alert after reported overdoses of a common drug used in labour and after childbirth.

Oxytocin is a hormone used to stimulate contractions during labour, and higher doses are administered to manage postpartum bleeding.

a woman is laying in a hospital bed with a man holding her hand

A patient safety alert has been issued after cases of oxytocin overdose have been reported[/caption]

But accidental administration of a postnatal dose of oxytocin during the birth of the baby can lead to “significant harm” to mother and baby, NHS officials said.

NHS officials say 25 oxytocin overdose incidents have been reported in the last five years.

Some include incidents in which oxytocin infusions and IV fluids were “confused”, leading to oxytocin “running through freely or at a significantly increased rate during labour”.

The patient safety alert describes one case in which a baby was sent to intensive care after an incident.

“A woman (received) a pre-prepared postpartum oxytocin infusion in place of IV fluids while in labour,” the alert states.

“The baby’s heart rate slowed, and the woman required an emergency caesarean section due to a placental abruption.

“The baby was born in poor condition and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for close monitoring.”

Other reports described include postpartum oxytocin accidentally given during labour or in theatre before a caesarean section.

Meanwhile, baby Harry Richford died during childbirth after his mum was given oxytocin during childbirth.

An inquest into his death determined he was put under stress due to excessive use of an anaesthetic form of oxytocin called syntonic, which led to brain damage.

The alert has been issued by NHS England’s national patient safety team and endorsed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

It calls for maternity providers to stop pre-preparing oxytocin infusions at ward level, in all clinical areas, including delivery suites and theatres.

To minimise any potential risks of delayed treatment of excessive bleeding after birth, post-partum haemorrhage kits or trolleys should be made available in all clinical areas, the alert adds.

It comes after an inquest into the three babies’ deaths began at Southwark Coroner’s Court earlier this month.

A total of 19 babies were infected with bacteria after having baby feed pumped into their bloodstream – because they were unable to feed on their own – between May 27 and June 2, 2014.

What is oxytocin? And how is it used in childbirth?

Oxytocin is a natural hormone that has an important role in many human behaviours and social interactions, including:

Sexual arousal
Allowing people to recognise each other
Promoting trust
Building relationships and romantic attachment
Promoting parent-infant bonding

It also plays an important role in birth and breastfeeding.

Here, its two main roles are to stimulate contractions of the uterus in labour and to stimulate the flow of breast milk after childbirth.

Oxytocin builds during labour making the uterus contract more frequently, more effectively and with more intensity.

Oxytocin is essential for labour to progress.

Sometimes oxytocin is given as a medicine to help start or strengthen your contractions.

It is also used to help your placenta to be delivered or to help your womb contract after childbirth to prevent or stop heavy bleeding.

Having oxytocin is not suitable in all situations – your doctor will give you more information if oxytocin is right for you.

Too much oxytocin in labour can cause the uterus to contract too much.

This is particularly true if you have certain risk factors, such as diabetes abnormal glucose levels during pregnancy or heart problems.

Because of this, your health team will monitor you carefully if they give you oxytocin in labour.

Source: Health Direct + NHS

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