Saline amnioinfusion for relief of variable or prolonged decelerations. A preliminary report.

Variable decelerations are of frequent concern to the practicing obstetrician. Oligohydramnios resulting in cord and/or placental compression is probably the most common cause of variable decelerations. We performed intrauterine saline amnioinfusion in 42 patients having repetitive variable or prolonged decelerations that did not respond to conventional therapy, such as maternal position changes and oxygen administration. Saline amnioinfusion was effective for relief of repetitive variable decelerations in 19 of 28 patients and prolonged decelerations in 12 of 14 patients. No neonatal or maternal complications occurred. This preliminary study suggests that amnioinfusion therapy may become a useful adjunct in the management of repetitive variable and prolonged decelerations.