Intrapartum care

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The effect of misoprostol on postpartum contractions: a randomised comparison of three sublingual doses

  1. A Elati1,
  2. MS Elmahaishi2,
  3. MO Elmahaishi3,
  4. OA Elsraiti3,
  5. AD Weeks1

Article first published online: 24 DEC 2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02821.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 118, Issue 4, pages 466–473, March 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

Elati, A., Elmahaishi, M., Elmahaishi, M., Elsraiti, O. and Weeks, A. (2011), The effect of misoprostol on postpartum contractions: a randomised comparison of three sublingual doses. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 118: 466–473. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02821.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    School of Women’s and Children’s Health, Liverpool Women’s Hospital, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

  2. 2

    Al Fatah Medical University, Tripoli, Libya

  3. 3

    Faculty of Medicine, Misurata University, Misurata, Libya

*Dr A Weeks, Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Crown Street, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK. Email aweeks@liverpool.ac.uk

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 10 FEB 2011
  2. Article first published online: 24 DEC 2010
  3. Accepted 1 November 2010.

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Keywords:

  • Fever;
  • misoprostol;
  • postpartum haemorrhage;
  • sublingual;
  • uterine contraction

Please cite this paper as: Elati A, Elmahaishi M, Elmahaishi M, Elsraiti O, Weeks A. The effect of misoprostol on postpartum contractions: a randomised comparison of three sublingual doses. BJOG 2011;118:466–473.

Objective  To compare the postpartum uterine activity and side effects of various doses of sublingual misoprostol and intramuscular oxytocin.

Design  Single centre, randomised trial.

Setting  Zliten Teaching Hospital in Libya.

Population  Forty-nine women who did not receive oxytocics in labour and who delivered vaginally.

Methods  Thirty-five women were randomised to receive 200, 400 or 600 mcg of sublingual misoprostol PPH prophylaxis immediately following delivery. These were compared with 14 consecutive women given 10 IU of intramuscular oxytocin. Immediately after placental delivery, a Koala intra uterine pressure catheter was inserted transcervically into the uterine cavity.

Main outcomes measures  Main outcomes measures are the uterine pressure (in Montevideo units) measured over 120 minutes. Other outcomes included temperature and measured blood loss.

Results  Women’s age, parity, gestational age and neonatal birth weight were not significantly different between the four groups. There was no difference in intrauterine pressure between the three misoprostol doses. However, the uterine pressure was significantly lower than oxytocin with all three doses for the first 10 minutes (P < 0.008) and significantly higher than oxytocin from 50 to 120 minutes (P < 0.008). A dose-related rise in the body temperature and chills was observed in the misoprostol groups, with 8.3%, 8.3% and 45% of women experiencing a fever >39 °C with the 200, 400, and 600 mcg doses respectively.

Conclusion  Intramuscular oxytocin has the highest immediate post partum uterine activity. Lower doses of misoprostol may be as effective as high doses and with fewer side effects. Clinical outcomes with low-dose misoprostol should be further explored (ISRCTN97277056).

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