P.102 Uterotonic drug use: a snapshot of clinical practice within obstetric departments in the UK

Abstract

Introduction: Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is the third highest cause of direct maternal death in the UK and Ireland. [1] Knight M, Bunch K, Tuffnell D et al on behalf of MBRRACE-UK. Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care – Lessons learned to inform maternity care from the UK and Ireland Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2015-17. Google Scholar Uterine atony is the leading cause of PPH. A range of uterotonic drugs are used for the prevention and treatment of PPH. There has been wide variation, within the UK and internationally, on the use of uterotonic agents. 2 West R, West S, Simons R, McGlennan A. Impact of dose finding studies on anaesthetic prescribing practice of oxytocin in the United Kingdom. Anaesthesia 2013; 68: 1021 –5. Google Scholar , 3 Thorneloe B, Carvalho JCA, Downey K, Balki M. Uterotonic drug usage in Canada: a snapshot of the practice in obstetric units of university-affiliated hospitals. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2019;37:45-51. Google Scholar A publication to guide the use of uterotonic agents during caesarean section has recently been published. [4] Heesen M, Carvalho B, Carvalho JCA, et al. International consensus statement on the use of uterotonic agents during caesarean section. Anaesthesia. 2019;74:1305-19. Google Scholar