Abstract

Oxytocin has been used in the management of missed abortion or hydatidiform mole, for the induction of labour, for the treatment of hypotonic uterine inertia, and in the management of the third stage of labour and of postpartum haemorrhage. Tablets containing 200 international units of synthetic oxytocin citrate are now available for buccal administration (Buccal Tablets Pitocin - Parke, Davis). This route may sometimes be more convenient, but is it as safe and effective as intravenous infusion ?