Carboprost Versus Oxytocin in Active Management of Third Stage of Labour

BACKGROUND Postpartum haemorrhage is the single largest and leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality not only in developing countries but also in developed countries. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the scope of using prophylactic intramuscular carboprost tromethamine 125mcg in comparison with intramuscular oxytocin 10 units for the active management of third stage of labor. MATERIAL AND METHOD 100 Pregnant women at term with spontaneous onset of labor were included in the study and were randomly divided into 2 groups of 50 women each. Group A and Group B were given injection Oxytocin 10 units and injection Carboprost tromethamine 125mcg intramuscularly, respectively at the time of delivery of anterior shoulder. The main outcome measures with respect to third stage of labor were duration, blood loss by volume, difference in hemoglobin, need for additional oxytocics and side effects. RESULT Subjects who received carboprost tromethamine 125mcg showed a significant reduction in duration of third stage of labor and blood loss when compared to subjects who received oxytocin 10 units. Additional need for Uterotonics after carboprost was significantly less compared to oxytocin. CONCLUSION Intramuscular carboprost 125mcg is a better cost effective alternative as compared to 10 units intramuscular oxytocin in active management of third stage of labor.