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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2009 Oct;107(1):4-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2009.05.021. Epub 2009 Jun 21.

A pilot randomized controlled trial of controlled cord traction to reduce postpartum blood loss

Fernando Althabe  1 , Alicia Alemán, Giselle Tomasso, Luz Gibbons, Gerardo Vitureira, José M Belizán, Pierre Buekens
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A pilot randomized controlled trial of controlled cord traction to reduce postpartum blood loss

Fernando Althabe et al. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2009 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether controlled cord traction (CCT) for management of the third stage of labor reduced postpartum blood loss compared with a "hands-off" management protocol.

Methods: Women with imminent vaginal delivery were randomly assigned to either a CCT group or a hands-off group. The women received prophylactic oxytocin. The primary outcome was blood loss during the third stage of labor.

Results: In total, 103 women were allocated to the CCT group and 101 were allocated to the hands-off group. Median blood loss in the CCT group and the hands-off group was 282.0 mL and 310.2 mL, respectively. The difference in blood loss (-28.2 mL) was not significant (95% confidence interval, -92.3 to 35.9; P=0.126). Blood collection in the hands-off group took 1.2 minutes longer than in the CCT group, which may have contributed to this difference.

Conclusion: CCT may reduce postpartum blood loss. The present findings support conducting a large trial to determine whether CCT can prevent postpartum hemorrhage.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of the study procedures.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Histogram of blood loss distribution.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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