Use of misoprostol in the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage: a pharmacoepidemiological approach

• Published in: Einstein (São Paulo, Brazil) Vol. 18; p. eAO5029
• Main Authors: Koch, Daeska Marcella, Rattmann, Yanna Dantas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein 01-01-2020
• Subjects: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Delivery, obstetric; Female; Gestational Age; Humans; MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL; Methylergonovine - therapeutic use; Misoprostol; Misoprostol - therapeutic use; Original; Oxytocics - therapeutic use; Oxytocin - therapeutic use; Pharmacoepidemiology; Postpartum hemorrhage; Postpartum Hemorrhage - drug therapy; Pregnancy; Treatment outcome; Young Adult; Pharmacoepidemiology; Hemorragia pós-parto; Treatment outcome; Delivery, obstetric; Postpartum hemorrhage; Parto obstétrico; Farmacoepidemiologia; Resultado do tratamento; Misoprostol
• ISSN: 1679-4508; 2317-6385; 2317-6385
• DOI: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2020AO5029

To characterize the use of the drug misoprostol for treatment of postpartum hemorrhage in pregnant women.
A descriptive observational study was carried out with secondary data from pregnant women who used misoprostol to treat postpartum hemorrhage in a reference public maternity, from July 2015 to June 2017. Clinical and sociodemographic profiles of pregnant women, how misoprostol was used and success rate in controling postpartum hemorrhage were characterized.
A total of 717 prescriptions of misoprostol were identified. Of these, 10% were for treatment of postpartum hemorrhage. The majority of pregnant women were young adults, married, with complete high school education, white, residing in urban areas, multiparous (68.1%) and 25% had previous cesarean sections. The mean gestational age was 39 weeks and 51.4% had a cesarean section. There was prophylactic use of oxytocin in 47.2% of women. Treatment of postpartum hemorrhage was successful in 84.7% of women. Of these, 79.2% also used oxytocin and 54.2% methylergonovine. Only 13.5% of pregnant women had less than five prenatal visits, and the main cause of postpartum hemorrhage was uterine atony. There were 13 complications after hemorrhage, 15.3% required blood transfusion and there was one case of maternal death.
Misoprostol showed to be effective and safe for treating postpartum hemorrhage.