A prospective, double-blind, randomized comparison of prophylactic intramyometrial 15-methyl prostaglandin F2 alpha, 125 micrograms, and intravenous oxytocin, 20 units, for the control of blood loss at elective cesarean section.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to compare intramyometrial 15-methyl prostaglandin F2 alpha with intravenous oxytocin for controlling blood loss at elective cesarean section.


METHODS
A double-blind, randomized trial was performed with intramyometrial 15-methyl prostaglandin F2 alpha, 125 micrograms, or intravenous oxytocin, 20 U, in 60 women undergoing elective lower segment cesarean section at 36 to 41 weeks' gestation. Subjective assessment of the operative blood loss and early lochial discharge and objective change in hemoglobin and hematocrit before and 24 hours after delivery and the incidence of side effects were compared by nonparametric statistical tests.


RESULTS
The mean estimated blood loss was similar in both groups, with 645 ml (SD 278, range 400 to 1500) in the 15-methyl prostaglandin F2 alpha group compared with 605 ml (SD 303, range 200 to 1750) in the oxytocin group. The mean fall in hemoglobin and hematocrit was greater in the 15-methyl prostaglandin F2 alpha group than in the oxytocin group, 0.98 gm/dl (SD 0.95) versus 0.65 gm/dl (SD 0.79) for hemoglobin and 2.58% (SD 2.96) versus 2% (SD 2.96) for hematocrit. None of these differences reached statistical significance. There were no differences in side effects and lochial discharge between the treatment groups. In both groups there was a decrease of approximately 1% in maternal arterial oxygen saturation.


CONCLUSIONS
Routine intramyometrial 15-methyl prostaglandin F2 alpha, 125 micrograms, does not offer any obvious advantage over intravenous oxytocin, 20 U, in reducing operative blood loss at elective lower-segment cesarean section.
Chou
M M
MM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China.
MacKenzie
I Z
IZ
D000328:Adult; D002260:Carboprost / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D009215:Myometrium; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010121:Oxytocin; D002260:Carboprost; D010100:Oxygen