Obstetrics and gynecology
-
Obstetrics and gynecology · Aug 1998
Clinical TrialRectally administered misoprostol for the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage unresponsive to oxytocin and ergometrine: a descriptive study.
To investigate whether rectally administered misoprostol is an effective treatment for postpartum hemorrhage unresponsive to conventional first-line management. ⋯ Misoprostol appears to be absorbed effectively from rectal as well as oral and vaginal mucosa. Rectally administered misoprostol appears to be an effective treatment for postpartum hemorrhage unresponsive to oxytocin and ergometrine; therefore, it might be an alternative to parenteral prostaglandins or at least minimize the number of women requiring this invasive treatment. Given that it is an inexpensive and stable drug, misoprostol has considerable potential to reduce maternal mortality from postpartum hemorrhage in developing countries.