Use of oral misoprostol in the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the use of the oral prostaglandin E1 analogue, misoprostol in the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage.

Design: A prospective observational study.

Setting: A university teaching hospital.

Participants: Two hundred and thirty-seven consecutive women undergoing vaginal delivery.

Methods: All the women were given 600 micrograms oral misoprostol just after delivery.

Main outcome measures: Rates of postpartum haemorrhage; need for therapeutic oxytocic drugs; retained placenta and length of the third stage of labour.

Results: Postpartum haemorrhage occurred in 6% of the women; the need for therapeutic oxytocics in 5%, retained placenta in 2% and the median length of the third stage was 5 min. Vomiting and diarrhoea in the first hour after delivery occurred in 8% and 3% respectively and shivering in 60%.

Conclusions: Misoprostol may be effective in the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage, and has few side effects. A double blind randomised trial is required.