Prophylactic effect of rectal and sublingual misoprostol on postpartum hemorrhage in mothers with preeclampsia following cesarean section surgery; a double-blind randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the three major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality, so delay in the diagnosis and proper management of postpartum hemorrhage is of great importance. The present study aimed to determine the prophylactic effect of misoprostol on postpartum hemorrhage in patients with preeclampsia. METHODS: This was a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial performed on 128 pregnant women with preeclampsia undergoing cesarean section in Kamali hospital in Karaj. After cesarean delivery, immediately after clamping the umbilicus, the first group was administered 400 μg of rectal misoprostol and the second group was given 400 μg of sublingual misoprostol. The third group (control) was given 30 units of oxytocin during surgery and within 12 h after surgery, respectively. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were measured 24 h later. The estimated bleeding rate by the physician, the need for additional medication to control bleeding, and the amounts of hemoglobin and hematocrit in the first 24 h were compared in the three groups. Finally, the obtained information was entered into SPSS version 21 and analyzed using statistical tests. RESULTS: The mean hemoglobin and hematocrit levels 6 and 12 h after cesarean section were significantly lower in the oxytocin group than in the sublingual and rectal misoprostol groups (Hemoglobin level (mg/dl) for oxytocin group 10.39 ± 0.73 and 9.53 ± 1.09 vs. sublingual misoprostol 11.05 ± 0.71 and 10.39 ± 0.84 vs. rectal misoprostol 10.92 ± 0.85 and 10 ± 1.01; hematocrit level for Hemoglobin level (%) for oxytocin group 31.27 ± 2.29 and 28.64 ± 2.93 vs. sublingual misoprostol 33.09 ± 2.20 and 31.05 ± 2.37 vs. rectal misoprostol 32.54 ± 2.7 and 29.92 ± 2.86) (p < 0.005). The mean estimation of visual bleeding in the oxytocin group was higher than the other three groups, followed by the rectal and the sublingual groups, respectively. However, there was no significant difference between the three groups regarding visual bleeding. There was no significant difference in hemoglobin and hematocrit between the two groups of sublingual and rectal misoprostol before and 6 and 12 h after the surgery (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: It seems that sublingual or rectal misoprostol administration along with oxytocin is associated with a reduction in postpartum cesarean section bleeding compared to oxytocin administration alone.