INTRAUMBILICAL VEIN INJECTION OF PROSTAGLANDIN-F2-ALPHA IN RETAINED PLACENTA

A randomized protocol was used to study the effect of intraumbilical p rostaglandin F-2 alpha (Hembate, Upjohn) and oxytocin injection in wom en with retained placenta. Prostaglandin F-2 alpha, 20 mg, diluted to 20 ml in normal saline solution (10 women, group 1); 30 IU of oxytocin , diluted to 20 mi in normal saline solution (11 women, group 2). or 2 0 mi of normal saline solution alone (7 women, group 3): were injected into the umbilical vein 1 h after delivery. Nine women (group 4, cont rols) underwent manual removal of the retained placenta. In group 1, p lacental expulsion occurred in all patients and the duration of the pl acental expulsion after prostaglandin F,a injection was 6.8 +/- 1.36 ( mean +/- SE) min: in group 2, six placental expulsions occurred after 13.3 +/- 1.97 min (mean +/- SE); and in group 3, no effect was recorde d after intraumbilical saline injection. We suggest that intraumbilica l vein injection of prostaglandin F-2 alpha might be a beneficial, non -surgical method for treating retained placenta. Oxytocin might reduce the Incidence of manual lysis of the placenta and achieve partial suc cess.