Intravenous sulprostone infusion in the treatment of retained placenta.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the effectiveness of intravenous sulprostone infusion for the treatment of retained placenta without massive primary hemorrhage among women at an university hospital over a three-year period.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

SETTING

University teaching hospital.

POPULATION: 126 consecutive women with placental retention and intravenous sulprostone infusion as primary treatment performed from October 2007 up to December 2011.

METHODS

Hospital records of women who received sulprostone infusion to attempt placental expulsion were reviewed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary endpoints of the study were expulsion of placenta and the total amount of blood loss during delivery.

RESULTS

The placenta was successfully expelled in 39.7% of cases, whereas 60.3% of women underwent manual removal of placenta. Blood loss was significantly lower in women with successful placental expulsion than in women who had manual removal of the placenta (582 ± 431 ml vs. 1275 ± 721 ml, p < 0.0001). Sulprostone infusion did not cause adverse effects or significant postpartum morbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

Intravenous sulprostone infusion is safe and reduces both blood loss and the need for manual removal of the placenta.