Treatment of atonic postpartum hemorrhage with a prostaglandin E2 analogue.

Atonic postpartum hemorrhage constitutes a dramatic clinical situation, with acute danger to the life of the mother. The present report is a 3 yrs prospective study using a Prostaglandin E2 analogue (Sulprostone) in the management of 22 cases with severe postpartum hemorrhage due to uterine atony unresponsive to conventional therapy. Successful control of hemorrhage in cases of blood loss more than 1,500 ml occurred in 83 per cent. Precipitated labour was the most common predisposing factor encountered in this group of atonic postpartum hemorrhage. Side effects of the prostaglandin therapy was tolerable and self-limited. The use of intramuscular administered Sulprostone appears to be an adjunctive treatment in uncontrollable atonic postpartum hemorrhage.