A randomized controlled trial of oxytocin administered at the end of the second stage of labor versus oxytocin administered at the end of the third stage of labor in the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Oxytocin, published as a randomized controlled trial.

The general objective was to determine the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage when oxytocin was administered at the end of the second stage of labor compared to when oxytocin was administered at the end of the third stage.

The specific objectives were to determine the mean amount of blood loss, duration of the third stage of labor, need for additional uterotonics and blood transfusion, incidence of hypotension and retained placenta, and mean difference in hemoglobin levels.

Why It Was Studied

Patients were randomly allocated to receive oxytocin after the second stage or after the third stage of labor.

Oxytocin was administered as a continuous intravenous infusion.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 130 women taking part.

A randomized controlled trial was conducted in a tertiary care training hospital. 130 women with term, singleton, live pregnancies in cephalic presentation who delivered vaginally were included.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Oxytocin and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Blood loss was measured by weight, and the corresponding volume was computed.

What Was Measured

Incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, volume of blood loss, duration of the third stage of labor, need for additional uterotonics and blood transfusion, incidence of hypotension and retained placenta, and difference in hemoglobin levels were the main outcome measures.

The subject headings attached to it are Asia, Asia, Southeastern, Biology, Delivery, Obstetric, Developing Countries, Disease and Endocrine System.

Author keywords: Bleeding, Clinical Research, Diseases, Hormones, Oxytocin and Philippines.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized study of Oxytocin in 130 women.

The publication is from 1999 (Philippine journal of obstetrics & gynecology : official publication, Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society), a journal based in Philippines.

More context: the Oxytocin compound page, all human trials.