Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2013 Sep;56(5):301-306.

A comparative study of methylergonovine and 15-methyl prostaglandin F2alpha in active management of third stage of labor

• Gupta A

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Postpartum hemorrhage is most common cause of maternal mortality. Active management of third stage of labor minimizes the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. To compare the effect of methylergonovine and 15-methyl prostaglandin F2alpha (15-methyl PGF2alpha) in active management of third stage of labor.
METHODS
A randomized open labelled parallel study with 50 women in normal labor, 25 in each group were included. The drugs methylergonovine (0.2 mg) intravenous and 15-methyl PGF2alpha (250 microg) intramuscular were administered at the time of delivery of anterior shoulder. Main outcomes measured were amount of blood loss during the first four hours of delivery and objective measurement of hemoglobin and hematocrit levels before delivery and third day postpartum.
RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in the blood loss between the two groups at delivery (P = 0.130), at 1 hour of delivery (P = 0.453). The blood loss with 15-methyl PGF2alpha was significantly less as compared to that of blood loss with methylergonovine at four hours of delivery (P = 0.014) and the total, i.e., during first four hours, amount of blood loss was significantly less with 15-methyl PGF2alpha (P = 0.026). There was no statistically significant difference in the hemoglobin and hematocrit levels measured predelivery and postpartum third day between both the drugs.
CONCLUSION
Both the drugs were effective in controlling the amount of blood loss during the third stage of labor, 15-methyl PGF2alpha being more efficacious.

Keyword

Methylergonovine; Postpartum hemorrhage; 15-Methyl prostaglandin F2alpha

MeSH Terms

Dinoprost
Female
Hematocrit
Hemoglobins
Humans
Maternal Mortality
Methylergonovine
Postpartum Hemorrhage
Postpartum Period
Shoulder
Dinoprost
Hemoglobins
Methylergonovine

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Mean blood loss during first 4 hours. 15-methyl PGF2α, 15-methyl prostaglandin F2α.

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