Umbilical vein injection of 400 versus 800 μg misoprostol for the treatment of retained placenta: A multicenter, randomized double-blind controlled trial.

AIMS: This trial was conducted to determine the efficacy of umbilical vein injection of 400 versus 800 μg misoprostol to deliver retained placenta and to compare both regimens regarding the time of placental delivery and amount of vaginal blood loss.

METHODS

A double-blind, multicenter randomized clinical trial was undertaken in four teaching hospitals in the North of Iraq and Al-Azhar University Hospital in Egypt, from March 2016 to May 2019. Group I (274 women) received 400 μg misoprostol and group II (249 women) received 800 μg misoprostol. Data regarding the time of placental separation and amount of vaginal blood loss were analyzed and proportions were compared between groups using Chi-squared test. Mean values were compared using the Student's t-test. The Mann-Whitney test was used to determine the median of vaginal blood loss.

RESULTS

The proportion of placental separation was 84.3% among women in group I and 86.7% of women in group II. The mean time of placental separation was 18.86 ± 234.2 and 17.86 ± 213.09 min in groups I and II, respectively (P < 0.05).The mean hemoglobin levels on admission and 24 h after placental deliveries were significantly higher in group I than group II.

CONCLUSIONS

Intra-umbilical injection of 400 and 800 μg misoprostol were both safe and effective methods for delivery of retained placenta.