A comparison of oxytocin and carboprost tromethamine in the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage in high-risk patients undergoing cesarean delivery

The aim of this study was to compare carboprost with oxytocin for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in females with a high risk of PPH undergoing cesarean delivery. Patients were randomly divided into three groups that received different uterotonics (oxytocin, carboprost and oxytocin plus carboprost) during cesarean section, following the delivery of the infant. A total of 117 females (age range, 19–40 years) at 35–40 weeks gestation who delivered by cesarean between December, 2010 and May, 2012 were included in this study. There were 29 cases of twins, 12 cases of polyhydramnios, 23 cases of placenta previa and 53 cases of fetal macrosomia. There were 37 patients in the oxytocin group, 36 in the carboprost group and 44 in the oxytocin plus carboprost group. No significant differences were identified in maternal age, gravidity/parity, gestational age and reason for cesarean delivery between the three groups. The median blood loss in the oxytocin, carboprost and oxytocin plus carboprost groups was 610, 438 and 520 ml, respectively. The blood loss in the carboprost group was significantly lower than that in the oxytocin and oxytocin plus carboprost groups (both P<0.05). Vomiting occurred in eight patients from the carboprost group, two from the oxytocin group and two from the oxytocin plus carboprost group (P=0.036). Carboprost was more effective than oxytocin in preventing PPH in high-risk patients undergoing cesarean delivery.