Postpartum Hemorrhage, Twin
Conditions
Keywords
Pregnancy, Twins, Postpartum hemorrhage, carbetocin, uterotonic, cesarean delivery
Brief summary
Poor uterine tone after the birth of a baby can cause excess bleeding (called postpartum hemorrhage or PPH). This is a major cause of maternal death worldwide. Uterotonic drugs are used to improve the muscle tone of the uterus after birth, and these are effective at reducing the incidence of PPH. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC) has recommended a single dose of 100 mcg of carbetocin at elective cesarean delivery to promote uterine contraction. In a study performed at Mount Sinai Hospital, the investigators have shown that smaller doses of carbetocin (14.8 mcg) are effective in achieving adequate uterine tone at elective cesarean section. In these dose-finding studies, women with multiple pregnancies have been excluded. Because women with multiple pregnancy have a higher risk of severe PPH, uterine atony, hysterectomy, prolonged hospital stay and death, it is plausible that a higher dose of carbetocin is required. This question remains unanswered. The hypothesis is that the ED90 of carbetocin in women with twin pregnancy undergoing elective cesarean delivery under regional anesthesia is greater than 20 mcg but less than 100 mcg.
Detailed description
There is a lack of consensus as to what the optimal uterotonic regime is globally. Furthermore, variability in the international guidelines regarding the choice of first line uterotonic in prevention of PPH adds to the confusion. With the widespread availability of carbetocin in some developed countries, including Canada, the question of which uterotonic to adopt and at which dose becomes even more difficult to ascertain. Studies that have currently been published suggest the ED90 doses of carbetocin and oxytocin provide adequate uterine contraction with possibly fewer side effects associated with the lower dose regimens. There is evidence to suggest that lower doses of both carbetocin provide equivalent uterine contractions with a better side effect profile in patients with a singleton pregnancy. However, there is no clinical dosing data specifically for patients with twin pregnancy. The results of our study will provide guidance to obstetric and anesthetic providers worldwide when deciding what dose of carbetocin to use in women with twin pregnancy.
Interventions
DRUGCarbetocin
Carbetocin administered intravenously, over 1 minute following delivery of the fetal head.
Sponsors
Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Intervention model description
Biased coin up-and-down design.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 55 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Twin Pregnancy * Elective cesarean delivery under regional anesthesia * Gestational age ≥ 36 weeks * No known additional risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage * Written informed consent to participate in this study
Exclusion criteria
* Refusal to give written informed consent * Allergy or hypersensitivity to oxytocin * Conditions that may predispose to uterine atony and postpartum hemorrhage such as placenta previa, severe preeclampsia (as defined by SOGC guidelines (25)), polyhydramnios, uterine fibroids, previous history of uterine atony resulting in PPH, or bleeding diathesis and obesity, defined as pre-pregnancy BMI \>40 * Hepatic, renal, and vascular disease * Use of general anesthesia prior to the administration of the study drug
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Uterine tone 2 minutes: questionnaire | 2 minutes | Uterine tone, defined as satisfactory or unsatisfactory by the obstetrician at 2 minutes after completion of the carbetocin injection. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Additional uterotonics administered | 1 hour | The drug, dosage and timing of any additional uterotonic medication given during surgery. |
| Estimated blood loss | 24 hours | Blood loss will be calculated through the difference in hematocrit values assessed prior to surgery and 24 hours after the cesarean delivery. |
| Intravenous fluid administered during surgery | 2 hours | The total volume (ml) of fluid administered from entering the operating room to skin closure. |
| Hypotension: systolic blood pressure less than 80% of baseline | 2 hours | Systolic blood pressure \< 80% of baseline, from drug administration until end of surgery |
| Tachycardia: heart rate greater than 130% of baseline | 2 hours | Heart rate \> 130% of baseline, from drug administration until end of surgery |
| Bradycardia: heart rate less than 70% of baseline | 2 hours | Heart rate \< 70% of baseline or a heart rate \< 50bpm, from drug administration until end of surgery |
| Presence of ventricular tachycardia: ECG | 2 hours | Presence of ventricular tachycardia as recorded by ECG, from drug administration until end of surgery |
| Uterine tone 5 minutes: questionnaire | 5 minutes | Uterine tone, defined as satisfactory or unsatisfactory by the obstetrician at 5 minutes after completion of the carbetocin injection. |
| Presence of atrial flutter: ECG | 2 hours | Presence of atrial flutter as recorded by ECG, from drug administration until end of surgery |
| Presence of nausea: questionnaire | 2 hours | The presence of nausea and number of episodes, from drug administration until end of surgery, as reported by the patient |
| Presence of vomiting: questionnaire | 2 hours | The presence of vomiting and number of episodes, from drug administration until end of surgery |
| Presence of chest pain: questionnaire | 2 hours | Any presence of chest pain, from drug administration until end of surgery, as reported by the patient |
| Presence of shortness of breath: questionnaire | 2 hours | Any presence of shortness of breath, from drug administration until end of surgery, as reported by the patient |
| Presence of headache: questionnaire | 2 hours | Any presence of headache, from drug administration until end of surgery, as reported by the patient |
| Presence of flushing: questionnaire | 2 hours | Any presence of flushing, from drug administration until end of surgery |
| Presence of atrial fibrillation: ECG | 2 hours | Presence of atrial fibrillation as recorded by ECG, from drug administration until end of surgery |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed