The effect of sildenafil on fetal heart rate pattern during labor: a single-blind, randomized controlled trial

Aims We aimed to evaluate the impact of sildenafil on the fetal heart rate pattern during delivery. Materials & Methods The study was a single-blind randomized controlled trial carried out in the maternity unit of Imam Sajjad Hospital, Yasuj, in ۲۰۲۴. A total of two hundred patients were randomly assigned to two groups. In addition to standard practices during labor, the intervention group received oral sildenafil at a dose of ۵۰ mg every ۸ hours, not surpassing ۱۵۰ mg, starting with the initial dose at the onset of the study. In the control group, standard routine care was implemented. The main outcome measure was fetal heart rate patterns. The secondary outcome measures included labor duration, meconium amniotic fluid, delivery method, postpartum hemorrhage, Apgar score, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, and adverse effects. Findings ۹۶ cases in the Sildenafil group and ۱۰۲ cases in the control group were included in the analysis. The reassuring fetal heart rate pattern was more common in the sildenafil group (۸۰.۲% compared to ۵۶.۹%). Among various non-reassuring fetal heart rate patterns, tachycardia and bradycardia were the most prevalent fetal heart rate patterns in the control group when compared to sildenafil. Cesarean sections were more frequent in the control group than in the sildenafil group. The neonatatl outcomes were similar in both groups. No side effects were reported. Conclusion The impact of sildenafil on reducing nonreassuring fetal heart rate patterns revealed encouraging results. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed for clearer conclusions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Sildenafil ، Fetal Heart ، Clinical Trial ، Amniotic Fluid ، Postpartum Hemorrhage