a randomized clinical trial on the analgesic effects of continuous low-dose oxytocin infusion after cesarean section performed with spinal anesthesia

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.