Carbetocin at Cesarean Delivery for Labor Arrest

Post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) is a major cause of maternal death worldwide. Oxytocin is the most common uterotonic drug used to prevent and treat PPH in North America, however, there are some limitations to its use. Oxytocin has a very short duration of action, which requires a continuous infusion to achieve sustained uterotonic activity. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC) has recently recommended a single 100mcg dose of carbetocin at elective Cesarean delivery to promote uterine contraction and prevent post partum hemorrhage (PPH), in lieu of the more traditional oxytocin regimens. Carbetocin lasts 4 to 7 times longer than oxytocin, with a similar side effect profile and apparent greater efficacy rate.

The evidence reported for Carbetocin use in the literature has mostly been based upon low risk non-laboring patients undergoing elective cesarean deliveries. At present, only 2 studies have looked at the use of Carbetocin in low risk patients requiring emergency cesarean deliveries. The minimum effective dose (ED90) of carbetocin in laboring women has not been determined so far. Similar to oxytocin, the ED90 of Carbetocin is likely to be higher in laboring women undergoing Cesarean deliveries as compared to the non-laboring women, due to the effect of the desensitization phenomenon.

This study will be conducted as a prospective, randomized, up-down sequential allocation trial. The success or fail of a patient in the study will determine the dose given to future patients. Dosage will be increased for patients following a failed case, and kept the same for patients following successful cases. Following a successful case, there is also a 1 in 9 chance that the dose will be decreased for the next patient.

The results of this study will establish the minimum effective dose of carbetocin for uterine contraction at cesarean delivery for labor arrest. This will likely minimize unnecessary side effects caused by a large bolus dose of the drug, and improve quality and safety of patient care.

Inclusion criteria

• All patients who have given written informed consent to participate in this study.
• All patients planned for uncomplicated low transverse cesarean delivery secondary to labor arrest, under epidural anesthesia.
• ≥37 week pregnancy
• Singleton pregnancy
• Patients who have received oxytocin for at least 4 hours for labor augmentation
• ASA 1 or 2

Exclusion criteria

• Refusal or inability to obtain informed consent.
• All patients who claim allergy or hypersensitivity to oxytocin and carbetocin.
• Previous history of uterine atony or PPH
• Risk factors for PPH such as pre-eclampsia, polyhydramnios, uterine fibroids, bleeding diathesis and chorioamnionitis etc.
• Abnormal placental implantation (known or suspected)
• > 3 cesarean sections in the past
• Previous classic uterine incision
• Macrosomia - Estimated fetal weight > 4500g
• Hemoglobin < 100g/L
• Cesarean section under general anesthesia
• ASA 3 and 4 or patients with hepatic, renal, cardiac (eg. Coronary artery disease) and vascular disease
• Genital development problems (eg. Abnormal uterus, cervix, vagina, etc.)
• Uncontrolled hypotension or hypertension
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Abnormal heart rhythms and bradycardia
• Drug abusers