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A randomised double blind comparison of Syntometrine® and Syntocinon® in the management of the third stage of labour
Author(s) -
Yuen Pong Mo,
Chan Norman S. T.,
Yim So Fan,
Chang Allan M. Z.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1995.tb11288.x
Subject(s) - medicine , odds ratio , obstetrics , incidence (geometry) , nausea , vaginal delivery , vomiting , retained placenta , pregnancy , gynecology , anesthesia , placenta , fetus , physics , biology , optics , genetics
Objective To compare the effect of intramuscular Syntometrine and Syntocinon in the management of the third stage of labour. Design A randomised double blind prospective study. Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong. Subjects One thousand consecutive patients with singleton pregnancy and vaginal delivery in February and March 1993. Results The use of Syntometrine in the management of the third stage not only reduced the blood loss after delivery but was associated with a 40% reduction in the risk of postpartum haemorrhage (odds ratio 0.60; 95% CI 0.21–0.88), and the need for repeat oxytocic injections (odds ratio of 0.63; 95% CI 0.44–089). The two drugs did not differ in their effect on the duration of the third stage. However, the incidence of manual removal of the placenta was higher when Syntometrine was used (odds ratio 3.7; 95% CI 1.03–123), although the overall incidence remained low. Side effects from both drugs, such as nausea, vomiting, headache and hypertension, were uncommon. Conclusion Intramuscular Syntometrine is a better choice than Syntocinon in the management of the third stage of labour.