Sulprostone reduces the need for the manual removal of the placenta in patients with retained placenta: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the extent that the administration of sulprostone reduces the need for manual removal of the placenta in patients with retained placenta.


METHODS
A double-blinded sequential randomized controlled trial of sulprostone versus placebo was conducted among 103 patients with retained placenta.


RESULTS
In the first phase of this sequential study, sulprostone was compared with placebo. The null hypothesis of equal effectiveness of both treatments was rejected after 50 patients. In patients with retained placenta, the placenta was expelled after sulprostone in 13 of 24 cases (51.8%, bias adjusted), whereas expulsion after placebo was achieved in only 4 of 26 cases (17.6%, bias adjusted). The difference was significant (P = .034). In the second phase of the study, in which the placebo arm was stopped, results were confirmed; in 25 of 53 patients (47%), the placenta was expelled.


CONCLUSIONS
Sulprostone reduces the need for the manual removal of the placenta by 49%.
van Beekhuizen
Heleen J
HJ
Jeroen Bosch Hospital, s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.
de Groot
Akosua N J A
AN
De Boo
Theo
T
Burger
David
D
Jansen
Nicoline
N
Lotgering
Fred K
FK
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D018457:Placenta, Retained / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; C016767:sulprostone; D015232:Dinoprostone