title: Intravenous sulprostone infusion in the treatment of retained placenta.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the effectiveness of intravenous sulprostone infusion for the treatment of retained placenta without massive primary hemorrhage among women at an university hospital over a three-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  126 consecutive women with placental retention and intravenous sulprostone infusion as primary treatment performed from October 2007 up to December 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital records of women who received sulprostone infusion to attempt placental expulsion were reviewed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary endpoints of the study were expulsion of placenta and the total amount of blood loss during delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The placenta was successfully expelled in 39.7% of cases, whereas 60.3% of women underwent manual removal of placenta. Blood loss was significantly lower in women with successful placental expulsion than in women who had manual removal of the placenta (582 ± 431 ml vs. 1275 ± 721 ml, p < 0.0001). Sulprostone infusion did not cause adverse effects or significant postpartum morbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravenous sulprostone infusion is safe and reduces both blood loss and the need for manual removal of the placenta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. vedran.stefanovic@hus.fi
authors.forename: Vedran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stefanovic
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paavonen
authors.forename: Mikko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loukovaara
authors.forename: Erja
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Halmesmäki
authors.forename: Jouni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahonen
authors.forename: Minna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tikkanen
mesh_terms: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D018457:Placenta, Retained / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; C016767:sulprostone; D015232:Dinoprostone