Acetaminophen for Fetal Tachycardia: a Randomized Pilot Trial
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00377832 |
Recruitment Status :
Terminated
(Poor recruitment and lack of funding)
First Posted : September 18, 2006
Results First Posted : September 16, 2013
Last Update Posted : September 16, 2013
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Fever Heart Rate, Fetal (FHR) | Drug: Acetaminophen 975 mg | Not Applicable |
This trial is a randomized, non-placebo controlled, assessment of whether acetaminophen can lower maternal temperature and baseline fetal heart rate in laboring patients with fetal tachycardia.
Term singleton cephalic pregnancies in active phase labor (spontaneous or induced) with fetal tachycardia will be recruited. Patient will be excluded for:
- Exclusion criteria (prior to randomization):
- Acetaminophen allergy
- Clinical chorioamnionitis
- Maternal fever
- Non-reassuring fetal status (NRFS), which is the designation for fetal heart rate abnormalities requiring cesarean delivery
- Previous cesarean delivery
- Multifetal gestation
- Breech presentation
- Known fetal anomaly
- Known contraindication to vaginal delivery
Primary outcome measures are:
- Maternal body temperature (oral) 90 minutes after treatment
- Baseline FHR
Secondary outcome measures are:
- Temperature difference before and after treatment
- Rate of cesarean delivery
- Rate of determination of NRFS
- Rate of subsequent development of maternal fever
- Rate of diagnosis of clinical chorioamnionitis
- Rate of neonatal sepsis
Power calculation Internal data collection at our institution of 53 patients showed a mean decrease in temperature of patients in labor with fever receiving acetaminophen is 0.3 degrees C measured an average (mean) of 90 minutes after administration of acetaminophen. Mean oral temperature before acetaminophen was 38.32, SD 0.33. Mean oral temperature after acetaminophen was 38.03, SD 0.85.
Sample size calculation shows that 27 patients are needed in each group to show significant difference using alpha 5% and beta 50%.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 13 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Acetaminophen for Fetal Tachycardia: a Randomized Pilot Trial |
Study Start Date : | July 2007 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | December 2010 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | December 2010 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
No Intervention: 1 | |
Active Comparator: 2
Acetaminophen 975 mg once
|
Drug: Acetaminophen 975 mg
Acetaminophen 975 mg by mouth once only
Other Name: Tylenol |
- Maternal Body Temperature 90 Minutes After Randomization [ Time Frame: 90 minutes ]Fever in labor is identified,consenting and randomization occurs, either acetaminophen is given or no medication is given, then 90 minutes later maternal temperature is recorded.
- Baseline Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) After Treatment [ Time Frame: 90 minutes ]
- Temperature Difference Before and After Treatment [ Time Frame: 90 minutes ]Maternal temperature difference before randomization and 90 minutes after randomization in degrees Centigrade
- Rate of Cesarean Delivery [ Time Frame: Labor--up to 24 hours ]Rate of cesarean delivery
- Rate of Determination of Non-reassuring Fetal Status [ Time Frame: Labor--up to 24 hours ]Non-reassuring fetal status is when cesarean delivery or operative vaginal delivery (forceps or vacuum) are performed for fetal heart rate abnormalities.
- Rate of Subsequent Development of Maternal Fever [ Time Frame: Labor--up to 24 hours ]Rate of subsequent development of maternal fever, i.e., the number of participants who developed fever.
- Rate of Diagnosis of Clinical Chorioamnionitis [ Time Frame: Labor--up to 24 hours ]Rate of diagnosis of clinical chorioamnionitis, i.e., the number of participants who developed chorioamnionitis.
- Rate of Neonatal Sepsis [ Time Frame: 7 days ]the number of participants who developed neonatal sepsis

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 45 Years (Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | Female |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Term pregnancy
- Singleton pregnancy
- Pregnancy with cephalic presentation
- Pregnancy in active phase labor
- Fetal tachycardia
Exclusion Criteria:
- Acetaminophen allergy
- Clinical chorioamnionitis
- Maternal fever
- Non-reassuring fetal status or fetal heart rate abnormalities requiring cesarean delivery
- Previous cesarean delivery
- Multifetal gestation
- Breech presentation
- Known fetal anomaly
- Known contraindication to vaginal delivery

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00377832
United States, New York | |
New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens | |
Flushing, New York, United States, 11355 |
Principal Investigator: | Daniel W Skupski, MD | Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens |
Responsible Party: | Weill Medical College of Cornell University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00377832 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
0605008549 4730406 ( Other Identifier: New York Hospital Queens IRB ) |
First Posted: | September 18, 2006 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | September 16, 2013 |
Last Update Posted: | September 16, 2013 |
Last Verified: | September 2013 |
Fetal tachycardia Fever in labor Acetaminophen Non reassuring fetal status |
Tachycardia Arrhythmias, Cardiac Heart Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Cardiac Conduction System Disease Pathologic Processes Acetaminophen |
Analgesics, Non-Narcotic Analgesics Sensory System Agents Peripheral Nervous System Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs Antipyretics |