米索前列醇对妊高征患者产后出血的影响

目的 :观察米索前列醇 (米索 )在妊娠高血压综合征 (妊高征 )患者产后出血的影响。方法 :对 6 1例妊娠高血压综合征患者在胎儿娩出后立即给予米索前列醇 40 0μg口服 (米索组 ) ,6 0例同期妊娠高血压综合征患者在胎儿娩出后立即臀部肌肉注射缩宫素 2 0 IU (缩宫素组 )。观察两组患者的第三产程时间、产后出血量、产后出血发生率以及米索组使用药物前后的血压变化。结果 :1两组患者的年龄、孕周、产次、轻、中、重度妊高征所占的比例、产前及产时处理、新生儿体重相比 ,差异无显著性 (P>0 .0 5 ) ,二组有可比性。2米索组 :第三产程时间 7.2 8± 3.2 3min,产后出血量 172 .4± 93.2m l,产后出血发生率 4.9% (3/6 1)。缩宫素组 :第三产程时间 9.5 3± 3.42 min,产后出血量 2 78.5± 12 1.3ml,产后出血发生率 2 3.3% (14/6 0 )。二组相比米索组第三产程时间、产后出血量及产后出血发生率皆明显少于缩宫素组 (P<0 .0 1)。36 1例服用米索的患者服药前收缩压 2 0 .2± 2 .1k Pa,舒张压 12 .9± 1.86 k Pa,服药后收缩压 19.4± 1.99k Pa,舒张压12 .6± 1.72 k Pa。服药后收缩压和舒张压皆有所下降 ,但差异无显著性 (P>0 .0 5 )。 4服用米索组 3例出现恶心及呕吐。皆为一过性 ,无需特殊处理。结论 :妊高征患者胎     

阴道分娩产后出血量的精确测定与血液指标的关系研究

目的 :探讨产后出血量的测定与血液指标变化的关系。方法 :采用前瞻性研究方法。选择经阴道分娩的足月产妇共 6 30例 ,产后出血量的收集计量采用称重法 ,由专人精确测量从会阴切开至产后 2 4小时各阶段的出血量 ,再按血液比重换算成容积。血液容积 (ml) =血液重量 (g)÷ 1.0 5。在接产前及分娩后 4小时分别抽取肘静脉血 0 .5ml,即刻测定血红蛋白、红细胞计数、血小板数、血细胞比容。结果 :产后 2 4小时总出血量平均为 5 5 4.2± 2 73.1ml,其中产后 2小时内出血量为 42 0 .2± 2 5 9.1ml,占产后 2 4小时总出血量的 75 .8%,第三产程出血量为 2 12 .0± 180 .9ml,占产后 2小时内出血量的 5 0 .5 %。在 6 30例阴道分娩中 ,产后 2 4小时总出血量 >5 0 0ml者 ,共 319例 ,占 5 0 .6 %。产后 2 4小时总出血量 >10 0 0ml者 ,共 39例 ,占 6 .2 %。产后 4小时血红蛋白、红细胞计数、血细胞比容较产前下降 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 1) ,尤以产后 2 4小时总出血量 >10 0 0ml者变化显著 ,而血小板的变化差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论 :以产后 2 4小时总出血量超过 5 0 0ml作为产后出血的诊断标准 ,则 6 30例产妇中有产后出血者 319例 ,产后出血的发生率为 5 0 .6 %。故是否需重新定义产后出血的量是值得研究的问题     

腹腔镜下治疗休克型输卵管妊娠的临床观察

目的　探讨腹腔镜手术治疗休克型异位妊娠的可行性与安全性。方法　回顾性分析我院 1996年 1月至 2 0 0 1年 1月 5年间收治的经腹腔镜手术治疗的输卵管妊娠病例 2 15例的临床资料。其中有休克症状及腹腔内出血量超过 10 0 0ml的 2 1例为研究组 ,其余 194例为对照组 ,分析两组患者围手术期情况。结果　研究组与对照组的一般情况无明显差异 ;输卵管破裂的发生率分别为 81%(17/2 1)、16% (3 1/194) ,两组比较 ,差异有极显著性 (P <0 0 1) ;腹腔内出血量分别为 (1775± 5 3 1)与(13 3± 176)ml (P <0 0 1) ,自体输血量分别为 (1141± 13 2 7)与 (2 5± 83 )ml (P <0 0 1) ,自体输血率分别为 95 %与 9% ,两组比较 ,差异均有极显著性 (P <0 0 1) ;术中出血量分别为 (40± 2 2 )与 (5 6±5 8)ml,两组比较 ,差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 )。研究组与对照组输卵管切除术的比例分别为 86%与5 1% ,两组比较 ,差异有极显著性 (P <0 0 1) ;手术时间分别为 (5 0± 2 4)与 (43± 2 4)min ,两组比较 ,差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 ) ;术后住院时间分别为 (3 0± 0 8)与 (2 3± 0 8)d ,两组比较 ,差异无显著性 (P>0 0 5 )。两组均无腹腔镜操作引起的围手术期并发症。结论　具备熟练的腹腔镜操作技术对休克型输卵管妊娠     

第三产程产后出血防治措施的分析

目的 :探讨第三产程产后出血的防治措施。方法 :前瞻性观察我院住院分娩的产妇 45 0例 ,其中阴道分娩30 0例 ,随机分为 5组。A组 :缩宫素组 (6 0例 ) ,于胎儿娩出后静脉推注生理盐水 2 0ml加缩宫素 2 0U ;B组 :卡前列甲酯组 (6 0例 ) ,于胎儿娩出后将卡前列甲酯 1mg塞肛 ;C组 :手法按摩组 (6 0例 ) ,胎儿娩出后手法持续宫底按摩≥ 5分钟 ,适度牵拉脐带 ;D组 :缩宫素加手法按摩组 (6 0例 ) ;对照组 (6 0例 ) :于胎儿娩出后静脉滴注生理盐水 5 0 0ml。另 15 0例剖宫产分娩者 ,随机分为 3组 ,A组 :缩宫素组 (5 0例 ) ;B组 :手法组 (5 0例 ) ;C组 :缩宫素加手法组 (5 0例 )。准确测量产后 2小时及 2 4小时出血量 ,记录第三产程时间。结果 :阴道分娩各组中 ,D组的第三产程时间最短 ,产后 2小时内出血量最少 ,C组、B组、A组依次减少 ;剖宫产各组中 ,C组的产后出血量及产后出血发生率与A组、B组相比 ,差异有显著性 ;剖宫产组产后出血量与阴道分娩组比较 ,其差异也有统计学意义。结论 :胎儿娩出后及时使用缩宫素或卡前列甲酯等促宫缩药 ,并采取主动手法辅助娩出胎盘 ,可减少产后出血 ,其预防产后出血的效果显著优于上述其他处理方法。     

高原地区妊娠妇女子宫动脉血流及胎儿脐动脉血流变化的研究

目的　探讨高原环境对正常妊娠妇女子宫动脉血流及胎儿脐动脉血流变化的影响。方法　应用彩色多普勒超声诊断仪 ,测定高原地区 34例妊娠妇女和 37例非妊娠妇女的子宫动脉血流及 119例胎儿脐动脉血流参数 [收缩期与舒张期 (S/D)比值、阻力指数、子宫动脉内径、血流速度、血流量 ];并以平原地区妊娠及非妊娠妇女子宫动脉血流及胎儿脐动脉血流参数作对照。结果　高原及平原地区妊娠妇女的子宫动脉内径、血流量均有增加。高原地区妊娠妇女子宫动脉内径为 (0 35±0 0 4)cm、血流量为 (2 80± 48)ml/min ;平原地区妊娠妇女子宫动脉内径为 (0 45± 0 0 4)cm ,血流量为(4 2 5± 5 5 )ml/min ,两者比较 ,差异有极显著性 (P <0 0 1)。高原地区不同孕期的胎儿脐动脉血流速度、S/D比值、阻力指数均明显高于平原地区 ,两者比较 ,差异有极显著性 (P <0 0 1)。结论　高原环境对子宫动脉血流和脐血流均有一定影响 ,从而导致胎盘血流灌注减少。     

腹腔镜下子宫切除术治疗子宫肌瘤1163例临床研究

目的　探讨腹腔镜子宫切除术式的临床价值。方法　对腹腔镜鞘膜内子宫切除术 (LISH) 771例、腹腔镜协助阴式子宫切除术 (LAVH) 372例、腹腔镜下全子宫切除术 (LTH ) 2 0例进行回顾性分析。结果　LISH、LAVH、LTH三组的手术时间分别为 (10 7 6 8± 2 9 2 8)min、(119 6 5± 2 9 93)min、(178 2 5± 32 89)min。LISH组的手术时间明显少于LAVH与LTH组 (P <0 0 1)。出血量分别为 (10 0 19± 2 2 0 6 )mL、(15 5 13± 2 4 5 4 )mL、(2 5 6 0 0± 10 7 6 3)mL ,LISH组的出血量明显少于LAVH组与LTH组 (P <0 0 1)。术中脏器损伤率 :LISH组0 2 6 % (2 / 771) ,LAVH组 0 2 7% (1/ 372 )。三组术后 3天体温分别为 (37 5± 0 3)℃、(38 1± 0 4 )℃、(37 8±0 6 )℃ ,LISH的术后体温明显低于LAVH组 (P <0 0 1)。三组术后肛门排气时间分别为 (32 2 8± 0 6 3)h、(39 4 0± 8 5 5 )h、(38 30± 16 31)h ,LISH组术后肛门排气时间明显早于LAVH组 (P <0 0 1)。三组平均住院日分别为 (4 1± 0 3)d、(4 7± 0 6 )d、(4 1± 0 4 )d ,LISH组术后住院日明显短于LAVH组 (P <0 0 1)。结论　三种术式均可作为临床子宫切除的术式之一。为保留器官、提高患者生存质量 ,<5 0岁患者宜采用LISH ,≥ 5 0岁可考虑L     

观察米索前列醇用于预防经阴道自然分娩产后出血的疗效

目的探讨米索前列醇用于预防经阴道自然分娩产后出血的作用。方法选取我院2014年2月~2015年2月收治的经阴道自然分娩且产后出血的产妇160例作为研究对象,所有患者均无高血压疾病,随机分成观察组和对照组,各80例,对照组在胎儿娩出后立即静注缩宫素10 U,观察组在胎儿娩出后即舌下含服米索前列醇200μg。结果两组患者第三产程时间、产时出血量、产后2 h出血量和产后24 h出血量比较:观察组第三产程时间(6.6±2.5)min,产时出血量(182.2±21.5)m L,产后2 h出血量(103.2±23.5)m L,产后24 h出血量(281.2±48.2)m L,发生产后出血1例,产后出血率为1.25%;对照组第三产程时间(11.4±3.4)min,产时出血量(257.2±38.6)m L,产后2 h出血量(257.2±38.6)m L,产后24 h出血量(478.3±45.3)m L,发生产后出血11例,产后出血率为13.75%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论米索前列醇用于预防经阴道自然分娩产后出血疗效显著,值得推广。     

阴道分娩产后出血的预防及处理

产后出血是产科常见的严重并发症 ,能否早期判断、正确处理与预后有密切关系。正常分娩时机体具有完善的生理止血过程 (机械性止血和机能性止血 ) ,如上述机制遭到破坏 ,可发生过量出血。防治的关键在于加强这两种止血功能。1　处　理1 1　及时判断出血原因　发生在胎儿娩出后 ,胎盘未排出前的出血为第三产程早期出血 (third stagehemorrhage)。如胎儿娩出后立即出血 ,血呈鲜红色则应考虑为软产道损伤 ;如数分钟后出血 ,血色暗红 ,间歇排出 ,考虑为胎盘剥离 ,先按正规手法娩出胎盘 ,如不能娩出 ,有出血者则行徒手剥离胎盘 ,并注意有无粘连、…     

产后出血的重新评估

目的　准确估计产后出血量 ,了解产后出血量与生命体征、血红蛋白及红细胞压积间的关系。方法　应用客观测定法 (称重法、容积法、羊水压积测定法 )和主观测定法 (目测法 )测量自然分娩和剖宫产妇女的产后出血量 ,同时测定产前、产时和产后血压、心率、血红蛋白和红细胞压积。结果　①自然分娩组产妇平均出血量为( 3 62 2 5± 186 91)mL ,95 %可信性为 710 0 1mL。剖宫产组平均出血量为 ( 5 2 7 77± 3 0 4 15 )mL ,95 %可信性为10 3 4 4 2mL。②目测法测量自然分娩组平均产后出血量 ( 176 4 4± 5 7 71)mL ,仅为客观测量法的 4 8 71% ,剖宫产组平均产后出血量 ( 2 5 4 0 4± 115 61)mL ,仅为客观测量法的 4 8 13 %。③临产前、临产后、第二产程、第三产程、产后 3 0、60和 12 0min两组产妇血压、心率、血红蛋白和红细胞压积均无明显差异。结论　阴道分娩和剖宫产分娩的产后出血量可以区别定义。目前临床目测法估计产后出血量较实际出血量减少 5 0 %。机体充足的代偿功能使产妇出血量在 10 0 0mL内生命体征稳定 ,血红蛋白和红细胞压积无明显改变。     

胎盘滞留的防治

胎盘滞留是指分娩第三产程胎盘剥离和排出过程异常,包括胎盘部分或全部粘连、剥离后滞留、胎盘植入或小块残留等。它属于产时常见并发症,其严重危害是导致产后出血及产褥感染。近年来,在产后出血病例中由于胎盘因素引起的相对增多,约占20～30%,仅次于子宫收缩乏力所致者。其中以胎盘粘连较多,追溯其原因发现与人工流产史有密切关系。1986年,全国产后出血防治协作组通过对6241例正常产妇产后24小时内阴道失血量的调查,发现产时     

Oral misoprostol for third stage of labor: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether orally administered misoprostol during the third stage of labor is efficient in reducing postpartum blood loss. METHODS: In a double-masked trial, during vaginal delivery women were randomly assigned to receive a single oral dose of misoprostol (600 microg) or placebo in third stage of labor, immediately after cord clamping. The third stage of labor was managed routinely by early cord clamping and controlled cord traction; oxytocin was administered only if blood loss seemed more than usual. Blood loss was estimated by the delivering physician and differences in hematocrit were measured before and after delivery. RESULTS: Mean (+/- standard error of the mean) estimated blood loss (345 +/- 19.5 mL versus 417 +/- 25.9 mL, P = .031) and hematocrit difference (4.5 +/- 0.9% versus 7.9 +/- 1.2%, P = .014) were significantly lower in women who received misoprostol than those who received placebo. Fewer women in the misoprostol group had postpartum hemorrhage (blood loss of at least 500 mL), but that difference was not statistically significant (7% versus 15%, P = .43). Additional oxytocin before or after placental separation was used less often in the misoprostol group (16% versus 38%, P = .047). There were no differences in the length of third stage of labor (8 +/- 0.9 minutes versus 9 +/- 1 minutes, P = .947). There were no differences in pain during third stage of labor, postpartum fever, or diarrhea, but shivering was more frequent in the misoprostol group. CONCLUSION: Oral misoprostol administered in the third stage of labor reduced postpartum blood loss and might be effective in reducing incidence of postpartum hemorrhage.     

The length of the third stage of labor and the risk of postpartum hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: To estimate whether the length of the third stage of labor is correlated with postpartum hemorrhage. METHODS: In this prospective observational study women delivering vaginally in a tertiary obstetric hospital were assessed for postpartum hemorrhage. All women were actively managed with the administration of oxytocin upon delivery of the anterior shoulder. Blood loss was measured at each delivery in collecting devices, and drapes and sheets were weighed to calculate the blood loss at each vaginal delivery. Postpartum hemorrhage was defined as more than 1,000 mL blood loss or hemodynamic instability related to blood loss requiring a blood transfusion. RESULTS: During a 24-month period there were 6,588 vaginal deliveries in a single tertiary obstetric hospital, and postpartum hemorrhage occurred in 335 of these (5.1%). The median length of the third stage of labor was similar in women having and those not having a postpartum hemorrhage. The risk of postpartum hemorrhage was significant at 10 minutes, odds ratio (OR) 2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.6-2.6; at 20 minutes, OR 4.3, 95% CI 3.3-5.5; and at 30 minutes OR 6.2, 95% CI 4.6-8.2. The best predictor for postpartum hemorrhage using receiver operating characteristic curves was 18 minutes. CONCLUSION: A third stage of labor longer than 18 minutes is associated with a significant risk of postpartum hemorrhage. After 30 minutes the odds of having postpartum hemorrhage are 6 times higher than before 30 minutes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.     

Prolonged third stage of labor: morbidity and risk factors

Although retained placenta is a major cause of postpartum hemorrhage, there is no general agreement regarding when manual placental extraction is indicated to prevent hemorrhage. We sought to determine the following: 1) what duration of the third stage of labor is abnormal, 2) what duration is associated with complications, and 3) what antecedent conditions are associated with prolonged third stage. We studied 12,979 consecutive, singleton vaginal deliveries over an 11-year period. Third-stage duration had a log-normal distribution, with a geometric mean of 6.8 minutes, a median of 6 minutes, and an interquartile range of 4-10 minutes. A third stage of 30 minutes or longer occurred in 3.3% of the deliveries. The incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, transfusion, and D&C remained constant in third stages less than 30 minutes, then rose progressively, reaching a plateau at 75 minutes. The increase in these complications after 30 minutes was observed with both spontaneously delivered and manually extracted placentas. In a logistic regression analysis, factors significantly associated with prolonged third stage included: preterm delivery (odds ratio 3.81), delivery in a labor bed (odds ratio 2.17), preeclampsia (odds ratio 1.76), augmented labor (odds ratio 1.47), and nulliparity (odds ratio 1.45). Because there was no increase in hemorrhage until the third stage exceeded 30 minutes, we suggest that in the absence of bleeding, manual placental extraction is not indicated until 30 minutes have elapsed.     

硝苯地平对妊娠高血压综合征患者产后出血的影响

目的　观察产时使用硝苯地平对妊娠高血压综合征 (妊高征 )患者产后出血的影响。方法　 6 4例妊高征患者分为硝苯地平组和对照组各 32例 ,两组患者均口服硝苯地平 10～ 2 0mg ,每日 3次。对照组在出现规律宫缩后停止使用 ;硝苯地平组继续以每 6h 1次服用硝苯地平 10～ 2 0mg ,直至第二产程末 ,观察两组患者产后 2h内出血量。结果　 (1)产后 2h内出血量 ,硝苯地平组为 (35 9.1±136 .6 )ml,对照组为 (2 6 8.5± 110 .7)ml,两组比较 ,差异有极显著性 (P <0 .0 1)。 (2 )两组妇女产后出血百分比显示 ,硝苯地平组为 43.75 % (14/ 32 ) ,对照组为 18.75 % (6 / 32 ) ,两组比较 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　妊高征患者产时应用硝苯地平会增加产后出血量 ,易引起产后出血。     

Oral misoprostol for the prevention of primary post-partum hemorrhage during third stage of labor

AIM: To assess the effectiveness of oral misoprostol compared with methylergometrine in the prevention of primary post-partum hemorrhage during the third stage of labor. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial of 864 singleton low-risk pregnant women. The outcomes were total blood loss, duration of the third stage of labor and peripartal change in hematocrit. Comparisons were by the chi2-test and Student t-test. Relative risks were calculated for side-effects profile. A P-value of less than 0.05 was statistically significant. RESULTS: The biodata of all the participants were similar. The mean blood loss for the misoprostol and methylergometrine groups was 191.6 +/- 134.5 mL and 246.0 +/- 175.5 mL, respectively (95% CI: -79.3 to -39.5 mL). The mean duration of the third stage of labor was 19.6 +/- 2.4 min and 9.4 +/- 3.3 min in the misoprostol and methylergometrine groups, respectively (95% CI: 9.82-10.58 min). More subjects had blood loss >500 mL, 42 (9.7%) versus 6 (1.4%), and peripartal hematocrit change greater than 10%, 38 (8.8%) versus 5 (1.2%), in the methylergometrine group than in the misoprostol group, respectively. Also, more subjects received additional oxytocic in the methylergometrine group, compared to the misoprostol group (80 [18.5%] versus 33 [7.6%] patients, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Orally administered misoprostol was more effective in reducing blood loss during the third stage of labor than intramuscular methylergometrine. However, there were more subjects in the misoprostol group in whom duration of the third stage of labor was greater than 15 min and who also had manual placental removal than in the methylergometrine group.     

Study of the third stage of labor by color Doppler sonography

We wanted to evaluate whether improvement in ultrasound equipment in the last 5 years altered our perception of the phases of placental separation during the third stage of labor. We also investigated the influence of active management on the third stage of labor after sonographically verified placental separation. Between January and November 2001, the third stage of labor was examined in 55 women at 37-41 weeks of gestation by color Doppler sonography. The duration of blood flow between the myometrium and the placenta, the latent phase, the detachment phase, and the expulsion phase were measured and compared with the corresponding values of an earlier cohort of 57 patients investigated between November 1994 and August 1995. In the later cohort, both the duration of maternal blood flow and the detachment phase were significantly longer than in the earlier cohort (33 s +/- 48 s vs 0 s, P<0.0001 and 56 s+/-45 s vs 37 s+/-21 s, P<0.01, respectively), whereas the latent phase was significantly shorter (101 s+/-87 s vs 213 s+/-180 s, P<0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in the length of the expulsion phase or the third stage of labor. The later cohort showed a statistically significantly more frequent multiphasic placental detachment ( P<0.05). Improvement in ultrasound equipment resulted in an earlier detection of the onset of placental separation, leading to a shorter latent phase and consecutively increased duration of the detachment phase, whereas the total duration of the third stage of labor remained unchanged. Furthermore, increased sensitivity of Doppler sonography led to a longer visualization of blood flow between the myometrium and the placenta in the normal third stage of labor.     

Length of the third stage of labor at term pregnancies is shorter if placenta is located at fundus: prospective study

AIM: To investigate how the location of the placenta at term pregnancies affects the duration of the third stage of labor and to discuss the possible mechanisms affecting the duration of the third stage. We believe that this is the first prospective study comparing the duration of the third stage of labor according to placental location. METHODS: The placental implantation was determined as anterior (n = 78), posterior (n = 59), or fundal (n = 64) by ultrasound, in 201 women with singleton pregnancies. After delivery of the newborn, oxytocin infusion was routinely given. Duration of the third stage of labor was compared by anova. P < 0.05 was determined as significant. RESULTS: The duration of the third stage of labor was 10.36 +/- 5.94 min, 10.44 +/- 5.35 min, and 8.12 +/- 4.25 min with placentas located anteriorly, posteriorly, and fundal, respectively. The length of the third stage was significantly shorter in the fundal placenta group. CONCLUSION: In this study, the length of the third stage of labor was approximately 2 min shorter with placentas located at the fundus compared to the other two groups. The mechanism responsible for shorter duration may be the bipolar separation of fundal placentas in contrast to usual unipolar down-up separation of anterior or posterior placentas. Another contributing factor may be the use of oxytocin infusion for the management of the third stage, however this should be investigated by further studies by using real time ultrasonography.     

A double-blinded, randomized controlled trial of oxytocin at the beginning versus the end of the third stage of labor for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the administration of oxytocin at the beginning and end of the third stage of labor for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage. METHODS: Patients with documented singleton pregnancies were randomly assigned to two groups. The first received 10 units of oxytocin intramuscularly at delivery of the anterior shoulder of the fetus and an identical appearing placebo injection following delivery of the placenta. The second received the opposite medication sequence. The study was double blinded. Blood loss was measured by weighing all fluids collected, visual estimation, and serial blood counts. RESULTS: 27 women received oxytocin at the delivery of the fetal shoulder and 24 after the placenta. Oxytocin given after placenta delivery resulted in lower blood loss (345 vs. 400 ml, p = 0.28), lower collection bag weight (763 vs. 833 g, p = 0.55), lower change in HgB (-1.26 vs. -1.32 g, p = 0.86), lower DeltaHCT (-3.43 vs. -3.64%, p = 0.85), and a shorter third stage of labor duration (8.6 vs. 9.2 min, p = 0.75). The incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, defined as estimated blood loss >500 ml (0 vs. 14.8%) was significantly lowered with oxytocin following placental delivery (p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, postpartum hemorrhage was less frequent when oxytocin administration was delayed until after placenta delivery.     

Prevention of postpartum hemorrhage by uterotonic agents: comparison of oxytocin and methylergometrine in the management of the third stage of labor

OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of intravenous oxytocin administration compared with intravenous methylergometrine administration for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), and the significance of administration at the end of the second stage of labor compared with that after the third stage. METHODS: A prospective study was undertaken: two major groups (oxytocin group and methylergometrine group) of 438 women with singleton pregnancy and vaginal delivery were studied during a 15-month period. These two groups were subdivided into three subgroups: 1. intravenous injection (two minutes) group immediately after the delivery of the fetal anterior shoulder, 2. intravenous injection (two minutes) group immediately after the delivery of the placenta, and 3. drip infusion (20 min) group immediately after the delivery of the fetal head. In each group, quantitative postpartum blood loss, frequencies of blood loss >500 ml, and need of additional uterotonic treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: As compared with methylergometrine, oxytocin administration was associated with a significant reduction in postpartum blood loss and in frequency of blood loss >500 ml. The risk of PPH was significantly reduced with intravenous injection of oxytocin after delivery of the fetal anterior shoulder, compared with intravenous injection of oxytocin after expulsion of the placenta (OR 0.33, 95%CI 0.11-0.98) and intravenous injection of methylergometrine after delivery of the fetal anterior shoulder (OR 0.31, 95%CI 0.11-0.85). CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous injection of 5 IU oxytocin immediately after delivery of fetal anterior shoulder is the treatment of choice for prevention of PPH in patients with natural course of labor.     

Timing of manual placenta removal to prevent postpartum hemorrhage: is it time to act?

Objective: The length of the third stage of labor is an important risk factor for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Current practice recommends manual placenta removal, if not delivered spontaneously, within 30?min. The review reexamines the evidence to determine the optimal length of the third stage of labor.

Methods: A MEDLINE search that associated the length of the third stage of labor with the risk of PPH was undertaken.

Results: A retrospective cohort study revealed the risk of a PPH became significant at 10?min (odds ratio?=?2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.6–2.6), and had doubled by 20?min (odds ratio?=?4.3, 95% confidence interval: 3.3–5.5). A receiver operator curve determined the optimal length of the third stage of labor to prevent PPH was 18?min. A follow up randomized controlled trial showed that hemodynamic compromise secondary to a PPH can be reduced with manual placenta removal at 10 compared to 15?min (6.4 versus 19.2%, p?=?0.001).

Conclusion: The time interval of 15?min may be a more appropriate time interval to recommend placental removal to prevent PPH.