TITLE:
Measuring postpartum uterine contractions during the third stage of labour: a pilot study, using a novel minimally invasive technique
AUTHORS:
Bamigboye Anthony Akin, Hofmeyr George Justus, Nikodem Vernice Cheryl
KEYWORDS:
Postpartum Haemorrhage; Intrauterine Contractions
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.1 No.3,
September
30,
2011
ABSTRACT: Objectives: To determine the feasibility of measuring intra-uterine pressure prior to placental delivery, using a novel minimally invasive method. Design: A prospective exploratory physiological study. Methods: Thirty-six low risk women undergoing normal vaginal delivery were randomly allocated to four groups. Group A received 600 mcg rectal misoprostol; group B received 600 mcg oral misoprostol; group C received 10 international units oxytocin intramuscularly after delivery of the anterior shoulder; group D received intramuscular oxytocin, 30 minutes after delivery of the baby. A calibrated catheter-tip intrauterine pressure transducer was used to measure the intrauterine pressure. This was introduced into the placenta via the umbilical vein, and recorded on a standard tocograph. Results: It was technically easy to introduce the catheter through the umbilical vessels in all mothers. On assessment of the tocograms, it was possible to interpret 95 out of 108 recordings (88%). Conclusions: This study demonstrated the simplicity of a novel, minimally invasive method of measuring the duration and frequency of postpartum uterine contractions prior to delivery of the placenta.