Use of oral misoprostol in the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage.

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.