Oral misoprostol versus oxytocin in the management of third stage of labour

Abstract

Objectives: To compare oral misoprostol versus intramuscular oxytocin in the management of third stage of labour.

Methods: The quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit II, Civil Hospital, Karachi, from June 20 to December 19, 2006. A total of 70 patients diagnosed in active phase of labour who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected by non-probability convenience sampling. These patients were divided into 2 groups of 35 patients each, for Oxytocin (Group 1) and misoprostol (Group 2). Main and secondary outcome measures were analysed. SPSS 10 was used for statistical analysis.

Results: Average amount of blood loss(ml) was 267.14 +/- 140.35 with Oxytocin versus 302.86 +/- 160.4, with Misoprostol, this difference was statistically insignificant (p = 0.236). Average drop in haemoglobin concentration (g/dl) with Oxytocin was 1.55 +/- 0.38 vs 1.66 +/- 0.61 with Misoprostol (p = 0.684). Drop in haematocrit (%) was 4.18 +/- 0.64 with Oxytocin vs. 4.50 +/- 0.92 with Misoprostol (p = 0.133). There was also insignificant difference in duration of third stage of labour, between oxytocin and Misoprostol groups (5.37 +/- 2.20 vs. 5.23 +/- 2.46, p = 0.451) Shivering, in Misoprostol group occured in n = 11 (31.4%) vs n = 3 (8.6%) with Oxytocin (p = 0.017) and pyrexia in n = 6 (17.1%) with misoprostol vs n = 0, with oxytocin (p = 0.025) thus significantly higher in misoprostol group.

Conclusion: There were no major differences in oral misoprostol and intramuscular oxytocin in the management of third stage of labour.