Carbetocin vs. Oxytocin at Elective Cesarean Section
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2020-12-18
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The study investigators are comparing 2 drugs (oxytocin and carbetocin) at 2 different
dosages, to help prevent serious bleeding (hemorrhage) after cesarean deliveries. These drugs
are used routinely to help contract the uterus and keep it contracted after the delivery of
the baby and placenta; this reduces the amount of blood you might lose. At Mount Sinai
Hospital, currently oxytocin is used, but its effect on the uterus is much shorter than that
of carbetocin. Internationally, there is no consensus as to what the most effective drug to
use is and at which dose. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada has
recently revised its guidelines to suggest 100 micrograms (mcg) of carbetocin as the drug of
choice at elective cesarean section. Guidelines from the United Kingdom and the United States
currently suggest oxytocin at various doses as the drug of choice at elective cesarean
sections. Previous studies at Mount Sinai Hospital have shown that lower doses of oxytocin,
0.35 International Units (IU), and carbetocin, 20 mcg, may be as effective as the higher
recommended doses. The investigators plan to conduct a large study to confirm these findings
so that they can use the most appropriate dose in the future. Furthermore, the investigators
hope to demonstrate that side effects are lower with the lower dose regimens.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital