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A Comparative Study of Oxytocin/Misoprostol/Methylergometrine for Active Management of the Third Stage of Labor

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Abstract

Objectives

To study oxytocin, misoprostol, and methylergometrine in active management of the third stage of labor and determine duration of the third stage of labor, blood loss, adverse effects, and need for additional uterotonics in each group.

Methods

Clinical trial of 300 women with healthy singleton pregnancy allocated into three groups to receive either: 10 IU intravenous oxytocin infusion, 600 μg sublingual misoprostol, or 200 μg intravenous methylergometrine. Primary outcome measure was blood loss in the third stage of labor; secondary measures were duration of the third stage, side effects, and complications.

Results

Subjects who received 600 μg of misoprostol had the least blood loss, followed by oxytocin, and methylergometrine. The shortest mean duration of the third stage was with misoprostol. Shivering and pyrexia were observed in misoprostol group, and raised blood pressure in methylergometrine group.

Conclusions

Misoprostol is as effective as oxytocin and both are more effective than methylergometrine in active management of the third stage of labor.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GMC and Rajindra Hospital, 151 Punjabi Bagh, Patiala, 147001, Pb, India

    Megha Sharma (Junior Resident), Parneet Kaur (Associate Professor), Khushpreet Kaur (Professor), Arvinder Kaur (Associate Professor), Preet Kanwal Kaur (Associate Professor) & Mohi Manjit Kaur (Professor & Head)

Authors
  1. Megha Sharma
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  2. Parneet Kaur
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  3. Khushpreet Kaur
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  4. Arvinder Kaur
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  5. Preet Kanwal Kaur
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  6. Mohi Manjit Kaur
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Parneet Kaur.

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Sharma, M., Kaur, P., Kaur, K. et al. A Comparative Study of Oxytocin/Misoprostol/Methylergometrine for Active Management of the Third Stage of Labor. J Obstet Gynecol India 64, 175–179 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-014-0512-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-014-0512-9

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