COMPARISON OF ACTIVE VERSUS EXPECTANT MANAGEMENT OF THIRD STAGE OF LABOUR

Abstract

Objective: To find out the difference between active and expectant management of third stage of labour in terms of amount of blood loss and durationof third stage of labour.

Methodology: This quasi experimental study was conducted in the Unit "B"of department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lady Reading Hospital fromJune - December 2006. A total of 100 patients were included in the study, outof which 50 patients under went active management of third stage of labour(AMTSL) and 50 patients had expectant management. Formal consent wasobtained from all the patients. Apart from the demographic data, details regardingthe amount of blood loss and duration of third stage were recordedon a semi structured proforma and analyzed by using Chi Square test, with pvalue of <0.05 considered as significant.

Result: In the active management group most of the patients had blood lossless than 100ml while in the expectant group most of the blood loss was between100-200ml. Mean blood loss in the active group was 72.5±36.83ml andexpectant group was 177.4±59.65ml , p value <0.001. Similarly the differencein the duration of the third stage was statistically significant between the twogroups (p value <0.001).

Conclusion: AMTSL was associated with statistically significant decrease inthe blood loss and shorter duration of third stage of labour.