The Effect Of Nifedipine Used As Tocolyic Agent On Postpartum Blood Loss Among Filipino Pregnant Patients In A Tertiary Hospital: A Prospective Cohort Study

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Ma Sheryll R De Jesus

University of the Philippines, Philippines

: Androl Gynecol: Curr Res

Abstract

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Objective: To determine the risk of postpartum hemorrhage among patients who were treated with nifedipine for tocolysis of preterm labor. Study design: A prospective cohort study was conducted with 66 pregnant women admitted for preterm labor. One group of women was given nifedipine to give time for the administration of corticosteroids for fetal lung maturity and/or control of preterm labor and one group was not given with nifedipine as they were admitted at far advanced stage of labor. Independent/Paired Sample T-test, Mann-Whitney U/Wilcoxon Signed rank test and Fisher’s exact test were used to determine the difference of mean, median and frequency between and within groups, respectively. STATA 12.0 was used for data analysis. Results: There was more blood loss during delivery among those who received nifedipine compared to those who have not taken the medicine, which was statistically significant (350 ml versus 250 ml, p=0.021). Furthermore, the decreases in hemoglobin and hematocrit were also lower among those who did not receive nifedipine compared to those who received nifedipine for tocolysis (8.5 mg/dL versus 16.0 mg/dL, p=0.014 and 0.03 versus 0.05, p= 0.010), again, statistically significant. Conclusion: Nifedipine used as tocolytic appear to increase blood loss during delivery, which was statistically significant. Greater amount of blood loss may be anticipated among those with nifedipine intake thus helping the obstetrician in preparing for active management of postpartum hemorrhage and preventing maternal morbidity and mortality.

Biography

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DR. MA. SHERYLL R. DE JESUS finished her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital in 2016. She is currently a Fellow-in-Training at the Section of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the same institution. She plans to pursue her career and study in-vitro fertilization in the future.