title: Carbetocin versus oxytocin after caesarean section: similar efficacy but reduced pain perception in women with high risk of postpartum haemorrhage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of carbetocin with oxytocin with respect to maintain adequate uterine tone and to reduce the incidence and severity of postpartum haemorrhage. Moreover safety, adverse effects and the need of additional medications were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective controlled clinical trial. We compared the effect of a single dose of carbetocin (n = 55) with oxytocin infusion (n = 55) in a women population undergoing to elective caesarean section with regional subarachnoid anaesthesia with at least one risk factor for postpartum haemorrhage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ± SD of postoperative pain in the day of surgery in carbetocin group was significantly lower than in oxytocin group and remained significant till the third day after caesarean section. In the day of surgery and the first day after surgery, women of carbetocin group who needed analgesic drugs were significantly lower than women of oxytocin group. The differences of diuresis and of diuretic drugs need were not statistically significant between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single carbetocin injection is efficacious and safe on the maintenance of uterine tone and on the limitation of blood losses, in peri- and in postoperative period. In addition, carbetocin was able to reduce pain perception during postoperative days improving quality life of women.
authors.affiliation: Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics, and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Bonis
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torricelli
authors.forename: Licia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leoni
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berti
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ciani
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puzzutiello
authors.forename: Filiberto Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Severi
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petraglia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D058748:Pain Perception / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012306:Risk; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010120:Oxytocics; D010121:Oxytocin; C020731:carbetocin