title: A comparative study of oxytocin/misoprostol/methylergometrine for active management of the third stage of labor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study oxytocin, misoprostol, and methylergometrine in active management of the third stage of labor and determine duration of the third stage of labor, blood loss, adverse effects, and need for additional uterotonics in each group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical trial of 300 women with healthy singleton pregnancy allocated into three groups to receive either: 10 IU intravenous oxytocin infusion, 600 μg sublingual misoprostol, or 200 μg intravenous methylergometrine. Primary outcome measure was blood loss in the third stage of labor; secondary measures were duration of the third stage, side effects, and complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects who received 600 μg of misoprostol had the least blood loss, followed by oxytocin, and methylergometrine. The shortest mean duration of the third stage was with misoprostol. Shivering and pyrexia were observed in misoprostol group, and raised blood pressure in methylergometrine group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Misoprostol is as effective as oxytocin and both are more effective than methylergometrine in active management of the third stage of labor.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GMC and Rajindra Hospital, 151 Punjabi Bagh, Patiala, 147001 Pb India.
authors: Megha
authors: M
authors: Sharma
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GMC and Rajindra Hospital, 151 Punjabi Bagh, Patiala, 147001 Pb India.
authors: Parneet
authors: P
authors: Kaur
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GMC and Rajindra Hospital, 151 Punjabi Bagh, Patiala, 147001 Pb India.
authors: Khushpreet
authors: K
authors: Kaur
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GMC and Rajindra Hospital, 151 Punjabi Bagh, Patiala, 147001 Pb India.
authors: Arvinder
authors: A
authors: Kaur
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GMC and Rajindra Hospital, 151 Punjabi Bagh, Patiala, 147001 Pb India.
authors: Preet Kanwal
authors: PK
authors: Kaur
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GMC and Rajindra Hospital, 151 Punjabi Bagh, Patiala, 147001 Pb India.
authors: Mohi Manjit
authors: MM
authors: Kaur
keywords: Active management; PPH; Third stage