Efficacy of Carbetocin Versus Oxytocin Plus Misoprostol in Decreasing Blood Loss During Cesarean Section

• Type of Study: A randomized controlled clinical trial.
• Study Setting: This study will be conducted in Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital (ASUMH).
• Study duration: 6 months.
• Study population: Women will be recruited from outpatient antenatal clinic of ASUMH.

Sample Size:

104 patients will be enrolled in this study and will be divided into two groups:

• Group A: 52 patients will receive+ Oxytocin (20 IU IV infusion on 1000 ml of normal saline solution) plus misoprostol (600 micrograms rectal). ( The control group )
• Group B: 52 patients will receive 100 micrograms Carbetocin IV slowly. Sample size justification By using PASS 11 software for sample size calculation, setting power at 80%, alpha error at 5% and after reviewing previous study results showed that the haemoglobin level (g/dl) postoperative to caesarean section was higher among women took Carbetocin than those took misoprostol (10.13 ± 0.76 versus 9.57 ± 0.95 respectively); based on that, a sample size of at least 90 pregnant females undergoing elective caesarean section divided randomly into 2 intervention groups [Carbetocin and misoprostol with oxytocin] (45 patients in each group) will be sufficient to achieve study objective, yet the drop out rate 17% so 7 patients will be added in each group.

Procedures:

1. Approval of the protocol by the ethical committee of the department of Obstetrics \& Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University.
2. Recruitment of patients planning to undergo elective cesarean section in ASUMH from antenatal clinic.
3. An informed written consent will be taken from all participants before enrollment in the study and after explaining the purpose, possible risks and complications.
4. All participants will be subjected to thorough history taking, general and abdominal examination, obstetric ultrasound examination and laboratory investigations including complete blood count to identify eligible patients.
5. The expert consultant will take the decision to do the cesarean section.
6. Eligible patients will be randomised \& allocated into 2 groups (A) \& (B). Randomization will be done using computer generated list.
7. Allocation \& concealment will be done using sealed envelopes prepared according to computer generated list into ratio 1:1. Patients will deliver by cesarean section. Patients in group A will receive 600 micrograms misoprostol rectally immediately before sterilization plus 20 IU Oxytocin IV infusion on 1000 ml of normal saline solution immediately after delivery of the fetus.
8. Patients in group B will receive 100ug Carbetocin by slow IV infusion (over one minute) intra-operative immediately after delivery of the fetus.

9. Estimation of blood loss will be calculated by :

   • After delivery of the placenta, the amount of blood loss in the suction canister and drapes will be measured.
   • The equation* used when calculating blood loss of a blood-soaked item is WET Item Gram Weight - DRY Item Gram Weight=Milliliters of Blood Within the Item. The items are weighed using a highly accurate digital balance ( Salter digital electronic scale 9037 TL3R).
   • Although a gram is a unit of mass and a milliliter is a unit of volume, the conversion from one to the other is a simple 1-to-1 conversion.
   • The amniotic fluid index (AFI) was estimated using abdominal ultrasound as the sum of the maximum vertical diameter of amniotic fluid in four quadrants in centimeters.
   • Amniotic fluid volume (AFV) (ml) was estimated by multiplying AFI (cm) by 30.
   • At the end of the surgery, the volume of quantified blood calculated by weight will be added to the volume of quantified blood in the suction canister then subtracting the amniotic fluid volume to determine total quantification of blood loss.
10. Follow up \& data recording; • Post-partum hemorrhage will be considered:

1. Minor PPH: if estimated blood loss from 500 ml to 1000 ml. 2. Major PPH: if any estimated blood loss is more than 1000 ml.

• Measuring hemoglobin level before \& after 24 hours of delivery to asses the need for blood transfusion.
• All data will be recorded in Case Report Form.