Can Oxytocin Augmentation Modify the Risk of Epidural Analgesia by Maternal Age in Cesarean Sections?

Abstract

(Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2018;97:872–879) Oxytocin augmentation of labor is often used in the setting of labor dystocia to increase the likelihood of vaginal delivery, and therefore avoid cesarean section. Increasing maternal age is an established risk factor for cesarean section. Oxytocin augmentation has been found to occur more frequently among women receiving epidural analgesia, and the authors of this study proposed associations may exist among epidural analgesia, oxytocin augmentation, and maternal age and the correlation with cesarean section. This study examined the effects and interactions of oxytocin augmentation, epidural analgesia and maternal age on the risk of cesarean section in nulliparous women.