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Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of misoprostol among patients with retained placenta in a low-resource setting. Methods: A prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out in Tanzania between April 2008 and November 2011. It included patients who delivered at a gestational age of 28weeks or more and had blood loss of 750mL or less at 30minutes after delivery. Sublingual misoprostol (800μg) was compared with placebo as the primary treatment. Power analysis showed that 117 patients would be required to observe a reduction of 40% in the incidence of manual removal of the placenta (MRP; P =0.05, 80% power), the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes were blood loss and number of blood transfusions. Results: Interim analysis after recruitment of 95 patients showed that incidence of MRP, total blood loss, and incidence of blood transfusions were similar in the misoprostol (MRP, 40%; blood loss, 803mL; blood transfusion, 15%) and placebo (MRP, 33%, blood loss 787mL, blood transfusion, 23%) groups. The trial was stopped because continuation would not alter the interim conclusion that misoprostol was ineffective. Conclusion: Treatment with misoprostol was found to have no clinically significant beneficial effect among women with retained placenta. Clinical Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN16104753 [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To examine the outcomes of women in advanced shock from uncontrolled postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) who underwent placement of an Every Second Matters for Mothers and Babies Uterine Balloon Tamponade (ESM-UBT) device.Methods: In a prospective case series, data were collected for women who received an ESM-UBT device at healthcare facilities in Kenya, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania between September 1, 2012, and September 30, 2016. Shock class was assigned on the basis of recorded blood pressures and mental status at the time of UBT placement.Results: Data for 306 women with uncontrolled PPH from uterine atony across 117 facilities were analyzed. Normal vital signs or class I/II shock were reported for 166 (54.2%). In this group, one death occurred and was attributed to PPH (survival rate 99.4%). There were no cases of shock progression. One hundred and eleven (36.3%) were in class III shock and 29 (9.5%) in class IV shock; the respective survival rates were 97.3% (n=108) and 86.2% (n=25).Conclusion: The ESM-UBT device arrests hemorrhage, prevents shock progression, and is associated with high survival rates among women with uncontrolled PPH from uterine atony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Postpartum hemorrhage is the most common cause of maternal deaths worldwide, the majority of which occur in low-resource settings. Uterine balloon tamponade (UBT) is an effective method of addressing uncontrolled postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) from uterine atony; however, UBT devices are often not affordable. We report on three novel uses of an ultra-low-cost condom uterine balloon tamponade (ESM-UBT) device. Cases. ESM-UBT devices were used in innovative ways to arrest severe uncontrolled pregnancy-related hemorrhage among three women in India and Tanzania. The first had sustained deep vaginal lacerations, the second a cervical pregnancy, and the third a complete molar pregnancy. Conclusion. The ESM-UBT device may be useful for control of obstetric hemorrhage caused by complex vaginal tears as well as cervical and molar pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal death in Tanzania. The Every Second Matters for Mothers and Babies- Uterine Balloon Tamponade (ESM-UBT) device was developed to address this problem in women with atonic uterus. The objective of this study was to understand the barriers and facilitators to optimal use of the device, in Dar es Salaam Tanzania 1 year after implementation.Methods: Semi-structured interviews of skilled-birth attendants were conducted between May and July 2017. Interviews were recorded, coded and analyzed for emergent themes.Results: Among the participants, overall there was a positive perception of the ESM-UBT device. More than half of participants reported the device was readily available and more than 1/3 described ease and success with initial use. Barriers included fear and lack of refresher training. Finally, participants expressed a need for training and device availability at peripheral hospitals.Conclusion: The implementation and progression to optimal use of the ESM-UBT device in Tanzania is quite complex. Ease of use and the prospect of saving a life/preserving fertility strongly promoted use while fear and lack of high-level buy-in hindered utilization of the device. A thorough understanding and investigation of these facilitators and barriers are required to increase uptake of the ESM-UBT device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]