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A pilot randomized controlled trial of controlled cord traction to reduce postpartum blood loss
Author(s) -
Althabe Fernando,
Alemán Alicia,
Tomasso Giselle,
Gibbons Luz,
Vitureira Gerardo,
Belizán José M.,
Buekens Pierre
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2009.05.021
Subject(s) - medicine , blood loss , randomized controlled trial , confidence interval , cord blood , postpartum haemorrhage , significant difference , obstetrics , childbirth , pregnancy , anesthesia , surgery , biology , genetics
Objective To evaluate whether controlled cord traction (CCT) for management of the third stage of labor reduced postpartum blood loss compared with a “hands‐off” management protocol. Methods Women with imminent vaginal delivery were randomly assigned to either a CCT group or a hands‐off group. The women received prophylactic oxytocin. The primary outcome was blood loss during the third stage of labor. Results In total, 103 women were allocated to the CCT group and 101 were allocated to the hands‐off group. Median blood loss in the CCT group and the hands‐off group was 282.0 mL and 310.2 mL, respectively. The difference in blood loss (– 28.2 mL) was not significant (95% confidence interval, – 92.3 to 35.9; P = 0.126). Blood collection in the hands‐off group took 1.2 minutes longer than in the CCT group, which may have contributed to this difference. Conclusion CCT may reduce postpartum blood loss. The present findings support conducting a large trial to determine whether CCT can prevent postpartum hemorrhage.