[Rectal administration of misoprostol for delivery induced hemorrhage. Preliminary study]

Abstract

Objective: Assess the efficacy of one misoprostol tablet (Cytotec) in severe delivery-induced hemorrhage on uterine atony after failure of syntocinon.

Patients and methods: A descriptive study was conducted at the Djibouti Army Hospital from September to December 2000. Five patients with severe delivery-induced hemorrhage due to uterine atony unresponsive to syntocinon were give a tablet of misoprostol by rectal administration.

Results: The hemorrhage ceased in less than 5 minutes in all patients. No immediate side effect was observed.

Discussion: These preliminary findings are encouraging and suggest that further investigations would be useful to assess the beneficial effect of misoprostol by rectal administration for patients with severe delivery-induced hemorrhage due to uterine atony. Case-control studies with a sufficient number of cases should be undertaken to determine the real efficacy of misoprostol in this indication.