OBJECTIVE: To investigate the use of the oral prostaglandin E1 analogue, misoprostol in the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. SETTING: A university teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and thirty-seven consecutive women undergoing vaginal delivery. METHODS: All the women were given 600 micrograms oral misoprostol just after delivery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of postpartum haemorrhage; need for therapeutic oxytocic drugs; retained placenta and length of the third stage of labour. RESULTS: Postpartum haemorrhage occurred in 6% of the women; the need for therapeutic oxytocics in 5%, retained placenta in 2% and the median length of the third stage was 5 min. Vomiting and diarrhoea in the first hour after delivery occurred in 8% and 3% respectively and shivering in 60%. CONCLUSIONS: Misoprostol may be effective in the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage, and has few side effects. A double blind randomised trial is required.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the use of the oral prostaglandin E1 analogue, misoprostol in the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. SETTING: A university teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and thirty-seven consecutive women undergoing vaginal delivery. METHODS: All the women were given 600 micrograms oral misoprostol just after delivery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of postpartum haemorrhage; need for therapeutic oxytocic drugs; retained placenta and length of the third stage of labour. RESULTS: Postpartum haemorrhage occurred in 6% of the women; the need for therapeutic oxytocics in 5%, retained placenta in 2% and the median length of the third stage was 5 min. Vomiting and diarrhoea in the first hour after delivery occurred in 8% and 3% respectively and shivering in 60%. CONCLUSIONS:Misoprostol may be effective in the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage, and has few side effects. A double blind randomised trial is required.
Authors: Gilda Piaggio; Diana Elbourne; Kenneth F Schulz; José Villar; Alain P Y Pinol; A Metin Gülmezoglu Journal: BMC Med Res Methodol Date: 2003-10-03 Impact factor: 4.615