Active clinical trials for "Uterine Inertia"

Postpartum hemorrhage remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, even in high income countries. Uterine atony is estimated to cause 70-80% of postpartum hemorrhage. Prolonged labor and augmented labor are known risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage. In attempts to reduce the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, particularly in patients with known risks factors, it is essential to optimize preventative practices in order to reduce the rates postpartum hemorrhage. Although oxytocin is considered the first line therapy for preventing and treating uterine atony, early consideration of additional prophylactic uterotonic agents may be indicated in women with prior oxytocin exposure given oxytocin receptor desensitization and down regulation. As such, investigators sought to examine whether multimodal prophylactic uterotonics (standard oxytocin + methylergonovine), in patients who are increased risk of developing postpartum hemorrhage (specifically laboring patients who ultimately require a cesarean section) would benefit from the addition of prophylactic uterotonics. The clinical rational for administration of multimodal prophylactic uterotonics at the time of cesarean delivery in laboring patients is three-fold: to decrease the incidence of uterine atony, to decrease the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, decrease the number of uterotonics required at the time of cesarean section. The primary outcome will be to evaluate the need for additional uterotonic agents (Methylergonovine, Carboprost, Misoprostol) at the time of delivery. Secondary outcomes will include the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage (quantitative blood loss >1 liter), surgical assessment of uterine tone four minutes following delivery of the placenta, preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin, the need for a blood transfusion, intensive care unit admission, uterine infection (endometritis).

Insufficient uterine tone resulting in atony can potentiate hemorrhage and adverse outcomes for the parturient. Oxytocin is the first pharmacologic agent used, followed by methylergonovine, carboprost, and misoprostol. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends the sequential use of oxytocin, followed by methylergonovine, carboprost, misoprostol, then surgical intervention for cases of refractory uterine atony. Many studies have examined the effect and dosage of intravenous uterotonics, including oxytocin. Although there are anecdotal reports of using intravenous bolus or rapid infusion of methylergonovine, no randomized trial has compared efficacy and side effects of these two routes of administration. Investigators hypothesize that intravenous methylergonovine reduces the time to adequate uterine tone (the tone at which the uterus is adequately contracted to prevent atony after delivery of neonate), decreases the total dose of methylergonovine to contract the uterus, and therefore produces fewer side effects of hypertension, nausea, and vomiting. Reducing the time to achieve adequate uterine tone is likely to decrease postpartum hemorrhage.

In this pilot study, investigators will administer calcium chloride or placebo to pregnant women undergoing Cesarean delivery who have been identified as high risk for hemorrhage due to poor uterine muscle contraction, or atony. They will assess whether a single dose of calcium given immediately after the delivery of the fetus decreases the incidence of uterine atony and bleeding for the mother. The pharmacokinetics of calcium chloride in pregnant women will also be established. Data from this pilot study of 40 patients will be used to determine sample size and appropriateness of a larger randomized clinical trial.

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Up to 80% of PPH is caused by uterine atony, the failure of the uterine smooth muscle to contract and compress the uterine vasculature after delivery. Laboratory and epidemiological studies show that low extracellular and serum calcium levels, respectively, decrease uterine contractility. A pilot study performed by the investigators supports the hypothesis that intravenous calcium chloride is well tolerated and may have utility in preventing uterine atony. The proposed research will establish the relationship between uterine tone and calcium through a clinical trial with an incorporated pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) study. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, investigators will establish the effect of 1 gram of intravenous calcium chloride upon quantitative blood loss and uterine tone during cesarean delivery in parturients with high risk of uterine atony. Investigators will concurrently collect serial venous blood samples to measure calcium for PK/PD modeling in this pregnant study cohort. High-quality clinical research and development of novel therapeutics to manage uterine atony are critical to reduce the high maternal morbidity and mortality from PPH.

The purpose of this trial is to determine the effective dose of carbetocin which would prevent the occurrence of postpartum uterine atony in 90% of women undergoing an elective cesarean delivery.

Oxytocin use has become routine practice in elective cesarean delivery to promote uterine contraction and reduce blood loss. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the best dose of oxytocin and the most effective route of administration. Most dosage and delivery systems have been empirically derived. It is currently our practice at the Royal University Hospital to start an oxytocin infusion (20U/L) once the baby has been delivered. Some anesthesiologists use bolus intravenous oxytocin and it is occasionally requested by the obstetrician. A few obstetricians also choose to inject bolus oxytocin directly into the uterus (intramyometrial). The primary objectives of the study include: Determine if our standard 'low dose' oxytocin infusion is adequate prophylaxis to prevent need for additional uterotonics, including additional oxytocin; Determine if the addition of prophylactic intramyometrial oxytocin improves both the primary outcome (uterine tone) and secondary outcomes (estimated blood loss, preoperative to postoperative change in hematocrit, need for additional uterotonics, and need for blood pressure support); and Act as a dose finding study to determine if the intramyometrial dose is sufficient to augment uterine contraction. The working hypothesis is that the use of intramyometrial oxytocin will not improve primary or secondary outcomes compared to the current practice of an oxytocin infusion alone.

The objective of the study is to demonstrate whether cooling the uterine smooth muscle during cesarean section (following delivery of the fetus) will promote better uterine contraction and involution resulting in lower blood loss, use of fewer uterotonic medications, and fewer hysterectomies following cesarean section. The investigators suspect that it may.

Carbetocin (Duratocin®) is a long-acting form of oxytocin, with a half-life almost 10 times longer. Studies have demonstrated that carbetocin diminishes the need for secondary uterotonic agents compared to oxytocin for cesarean delivery (CD). Despite certain Canadian guidelines recommending its use for elective CD, several Canadian centers and other countries have not adopted carbetocin. The purpose of this study is to prospectively gather electronic data on all CDs over a one year period, elective and emergent, in a single institution, and to evaluate the efficacy and other clinical outcomes when carbetocin is used as a first line uterotonic for all CDs. A database using Microsoft Dynamics CRM is available on smart phones and tablets. Data regarding additional uterotonic use and impact of carbetocin use during CD on intra and postoperative outcomes are gathered and analyzed. The primary outcome is the use of additional uterotonics in this population compared to that described in the literature for oxytocin as the primary uterotonic.

Despite the fact that a link between cholesterol and the myometrium has been clearly established, no study investigating aspects of cholesterol metabolism and uterine dystocia currently exists. This study is a pilot study whose aim is to test the hypothesis that an association between uterine dystocia and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes coding for the LXRs.

Patient's with planned cesarean sections will be randomized to receive either standard 20 mU in 1L as a bolus following delivery of the placenta or 20 mu in 1L following delivery of the placenta plus an additional 20 mU in 1L over 8 hours.