Intrauterine misoprostol for the treatment of severe recurrent atonic secondary postpartum haemorrhage

Misoprostol in addition to routine treatment of postpartum hemorrhage: a hospital-based randomized-controlled trial in Karachi, Pakistan

BACKGROUND

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains a major killer of women worldwide. Standard uterotonic treatments used to control postpartum bleeding do not always work and are not always available. Misoprostol's potential as a treatment option for PPH is increasingly known, but its use remains ad hoc and available evidence does not support the safety or efficacy of one particular regimen. This study aimed to determine the adjunct benefit of misoprostol when combined with standard oxytocics for PPH treatment.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial was conducted in four Karachi hospitals from December 2005 - April 2007 to assess the benefit of a 600 mcg dose of misoprostol given sublingually in addition to standard oxytocics for postpartum hemorrhage treatment. Consenting women had their blood loss measured after normal vaginal delivery and were enrolled in the study after losing more than 500 ml of blood. Women were randomly assigned to receive either 600 mcg sublingual misoprostol or matching placebo in addition to standard PPH treatment with injectable oxytocics. Both women and providers were blinded to the treatment assignment. Blood loss was collected until active bleeding stopped and for a minimum of one hour after PPH diagnosis. Total blood loss, hemoglobin measures, and treatment outcomes were recorded for all participants.

RESULTS

Due to a much lower rate of PPH than expected (1.2%), only sixty-one patients were diagnosed and treated for their PPH in this study, and we were therefore unable to measure statistical significance in any of the primary endpoints. The addition of 600 mcg sublingual misoprostol to standard PPH treatments does, however, suggest a trend in reduced postpartum blood loss, a smaller drop in postpartum hemoglobin, and need for fewer additional interventions. Women who bled less overall had a significantly smaller drop in hemoglobin and received fewer additional interventions. There were no hysterectomies or maternal deaths among study participants. The rate of transient shivering and fever was significantly higher among women receiving misoprostol

CONCLUSION

A 600 mcg dose of misoprostol given sublingually shows promise as an adjunct treatment for PPH and its use should continue to be explored for its life-saving potential in the care of women experiencing PPH.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical trials.gov, Registry No. NCT00116480.

Misoprostol for treating postpartum haemorrhage: a randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN72263357]

BACKGROUND: Postpartum haemorrhage remains an important cause of maternal death despite treatment with conventional therapy. Uncontrolled studies and one randomised comparison with conventional oxytocics have reported dramatic effects with high-dose misoprostol, usually given rectally, for treatment of postpartum haemorrhage, but this has not been evaluated in a placebo-controlled trial. METHODS: The study was conducted at East London Hospital Complex, Tembisa and Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospitals, South Africa. Routine active management of the third stage of labour was practised. Women with more than usual postpartum bleeding thought to be related to inadequate uterine contraction were invited to participate, and to sign informed consent. All routine treatment was given from a special 'Postpartum Haemorrhage Trolley'. In addition, participants who consented were enrolled by drawing the next in a series of randomised treatment packs containing either misoprostol 5 x 200 microg or similar placebo, which were given 1 orally, 2 sublingually and 2 rectally. RESULTS: With misoprostol there was a trend to reduced blood loss >/=500 ml in 1 hour after enrolment measured in a flat plastic 'fracture bedpan', the primary outcome (6/117 vs 11/120, relative risk 0.56; 95% confidence interval 0.21 to 1.46). There was no difference in mean blood loss or haemoglobin level on day 1 after birth < 6 g/dl or blood transfusion. Side-effects were increased, namely shivering (63/116 vs 30/118; 2.14, 1.50 to 3.04) and pyrexia > 38.5 degrees C (11/114 vs 2/118; 5.69, 1.29 to 25). In the misoprostol group 3 women underwent hysterectomy of whom 1 died, and there were 2 further maternal deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Because of a lower than expected incidence of the primary outcome in the placebo group, the study was underpowered. We could not confirm the dramatic effect of misoprostol reported in several unblinded studies, but the results do not exclude a clinically important effect. Larger studies are needed to assess substantive outcomes and risks before misoprostol enters routine use.

Massive obstetric hemorrhage

Massive obstetric haemorrhage is a major cause of maternal death and morbidity; abruption of the placenta, placenta praevia and postpartum haemorrhage being the main causes of haemorrhages. A delay in the correction of hypovolaemia, diagnosis and treatment of defective coagulation and/or surgical control of bleeding are the avoidable factors in most maternal deaths caused by haemorrhage. The main goal is to maintain effective circulating intravascular volume by prompt and adequate replacement of blood, crystalloids or fresh-frozen plasma through more than one intravenous line (it might be necessary to pump blood under pressure) with constant monitoring of the pulse rate and the arterial blood pressure. The rapid correction of hypovolaemia with crystalloids and red cells is the first priority, followed by blood component therapy. Oxytocin and prostaglandin will correct uterine atony, and appropriate surgical intervention is required for traumatic bleeding. Ligation of the uterine arteries, ovarian arteries and hypogastric arteries will usually control uterine bleeding and arterial embolization is also effective. Hysterectomy should also be considered in severe cases. All gynecologists should be able to perform without delay the operative maneuvers which are necessary to control the bleeding, including hypogastric artery ligation, or even emergency hysterectomy. This topic may have received little attention because it is perceived as being associated with maternal morbidity rather than mortality in developed countries; it is only recently that the extent and importance of postnatal maternal morbidity has been recognized.

Major postpartum haemorrhage

Postpartum haemorrhage remains in the top five causes of maternal deaths in both developed and developing countries. Persistent blood loss of more than 1000 ml should prompt predetermined measures to achieve resuscitation and haemostasis. A protocol including guidelines is given and volume replacement is discussed. The range of medical and surgical interventions that may be considered for the modern management of major haemorrhage unresponsive to oxytocin and ergometrine are presented. The review discusses in depth the use of misoprostol, recombinant activated factor VII, the uterine tamponade procedures, artery ligation, and uterine haemostatic suturing techniques. It also evaluates the place of interventional radiology and hysterectomy in modern obstetrics.