Oxytocin during myomectomy: a randomized study

Evaluating efficacy of intravenous carbetocin in reducing blood loss during abdominal myomectomy: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of carbetocin versus placebo in decreasing intraoperative blood loss and the need for blood transfusion during abdominal myomectomy.

DESIGN

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

SETTING

Tertiary university hospital from September 2019 to February 2020.

PATIENT(S)

A total of 138 women with symptomatic leiomyoma who were candidates for abdominal myomectomy (n = 69 in each group).

INTERVENTION(S)

We randomized the study participants in a 1:1 ratio to carbetocin and placebo groups. Intravenous 100 μg carbetocin or placebo was administered slowly after induction of anesthesia.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Intraoperative blood loss, need for blood transfusion, postoperative hemoglobin, operative time, length of hospitalization, and drug side-effects.

RESULT(S)

The baseline characteristics were similar among all groups. Carbetocin had significantly lower intraoperative blood loss compared with placebo (mean difference 184 mL). Hemoglobin level 24 hours after surgery was significantly lower in the placebo group than in the carbetocin group (9.1 ± 0.8 vs. 10.3 ± 0.6 g/dL). Eight women in the carbetocin group needed blood transfusion compared with 17 in placebo group. Operative time, length of hospitalization, and side-effects were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSION(S)

A single preoperative intravenous dose of 100 μg carbetocin is a simple, practical, and effective method of decreasing intraoperative blood loss and the need for blood transfusion during abdominal myomectomy, with tolerable, few, nonsignificant side-effects.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04083625.

The Impact of Spinal Anesthesia and Use of Oxytocin on Fluid Absorption in Patients Undergoing Operative Hysteroscopy: Results from a Prospective Controlled Study

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine if combining intravenous oxytocin infusion and spinal anesthesia will reduce the amount of glycine absorption in patients undergoing operative hysteroscopy.

Patients and Methods

A prospective controlled study was conducted in premenopausal patients who had hysteroscopic surgery including endometrial resection, endometrial polypectomy, myomectomy resection and uterine septal resection. The effect of combined spinal anesthetic with oxytocin infusion on fluid deficit was studied.

Results

A total of 88 patients were studied. Sixty-two cases were done under general anesthesia (control group) and 26 cases were performed with spinal anesthesia and the use of oxytocin infusion (study group). There was a statistically significant less mean fluid deficit in the study group than control group in the endometrial polypectomy patients (220±36 mL vs 392±178 mL, respectively, P value 0.010, 95% C.I.: 163–276) and the myomectomy patients (308±66 mL vs 564±371 mL, respectively, P value 0.003, 95% C.I.: 239–378). In the endometrial resections, there was also a statistically significant less mean fluid deficit in the study than the control group (P value ˂ 0.001). Regarding septal resection, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean fluid deficit between the two groups (P value 0.833).

Conclusion

Spinal anesthesia combined with intravenous oxytocin infusion in operative hysteroscopy results in a statistically significant reduction in the glycine fluid deficit than the general anesthesia. We also recommend studying the effects of this combination in operative hysteroscopy using bipolar devices with isotonic solutions.

Oxytocin infusion reduces bleeding during abdominal myomectomies: a randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effectiveness of oxytocin infusion to reduce intraoperative bleeding during abdominal myomectomies.

METHODS

This randomized, parallel group, blinded study was conducted between October 2017 and May 2018. Patients undergoing abdominal myomectomies were randomized 1:1 either to the oxytocin group or to the control group (saline). In the oxytocin group, 10 IU oxytocin in 500 ml of saline at a rate of 120 ml/h was given during the course of the operation. The primary outcome of this study was to measure intraoperative blood loss between the study groups. Correlation and multiple regression analysis were performed to illustrate factors associated with intraoperative blood loss during the myomectomy.

RESULTS

The mean intraoperative blood loss during the surgery was 489.20 ± 239.72 ml in the oxytocin group and was 641.40 ± 288.21 ml in the control group. The hemoglobin decline was more evident in the control group than in the oxytocin group. Positive correlations were also observed between the intraoperative blood loss and number of fibroids removed during the surgery, largest fibroid removed and weight of fibroids removed. The use of oxytocin infusion during the myomectomy resulted in a reduction of bleeding in the regression model.

CONCLUSION

Intravenous oxytocin infusion is a safe and practical method to reduce intraoperative blood loss during the abdominal myomectomy.

[Prevention of bleeding during laparotomic myomectomy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Contribution to the tourniquet on the uterine isthmus]

OBJECTIVES

To appreciate the decrease of bleeding by myomectomy by the use of a tourniquet on the uterine isthmus.

METHODS

We conducted a case-control retrospective study from March 2014 to February 2016 in the Gynecology and obstetrics Department of the university hospital of Yopougon (Abidjan, Ivory Coast). It interested 100 patients of which 50 had a myomectomy with the tourniquet on the uterine isthmus and 50 without the tourniquet. None of the patients received pre-operative preventive treatment. The criteria for comparison were the blood loss per operative and the pre-and post-operative hemoglobin levels.

RESULTS

The average age of patients was 33 years. Nulliparous women were the group most affected (68% of our patients) with 32% infertile women in the group with the tourniquet and 18% in the group without the tourniquet. Patients without tourniquet presented more bleeding than patients with tourniquet (X2=13.61) with a higher proportion of anemic patients in the group without the tourniquet. The differences were significant. The tourniquet has made it possible to realize the resection of a larger number of myoma. The duration of hospital stay was 4 days on average in both groups and no complications were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of a tourniquet on the uterine isthmus during laparotomic myomectomy has a benefit in reducing intraoperative blood loss.

Effect of oxytocin infusion on reducing the blood loss during abdominal myomectomy: a double-blind randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness and safety of oxytocin to reduce blood loss during abdominal myomectomy.

DESIGN

Double-blind randomised controlled trial.

SETTING

Obstetrics and Gynecologic University Medical Centre.

POPULATION

Eighty healthy women candidates for abdominal myomectomy.

METHODS

Women were randomly assigned to two groups. In the study group (n = 40) oxytocin 30 IU in 500 ml normal saline; and in the placebo group (n = 40) pure normal saline was administered during myomectomy. The main outcome measures were peri-operative blood loss and rates of blood transfusion.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Estimated intra-operative blood loss.

RESULTS

Estimated intra-operative blood loss in the study group (189.5 ± 16.72 ml) was significantly lower than the placebo group (692.25 ± 89.93 ml) (95% CI 672.54-711.96; P < 0.0001).The need for blood transfusion was significantly lower in the study group. Blood transfusions were required for three (7.5%) women in the study group and 10 (25%) women in the placebo group (95% CI 15.5-34.5; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Intra-operative oxytocin infusion appears to be safe and effective in decreasing blood loss during abdominal myomectomy.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Intra-operative oxytocin is effective in decreasing blood loss during abdominal myomectomy.

Hemostatic Techniques for Myomectomy: An Evidence-Based Approach

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign gynecologic tumor. They are also a significant cause of morbidity, necessitating treatments ranging from hormonal suppression to surgical intervention. Myomectomy, the removal of these highly vascular tumors, offers significant quality of life and fertility-sparing benefit for patients affected by uterine leiomyomas but with a risk of substantial intraoperative blood loss. This risk of hemorrhage leads not only an increased transfusion rate but also he need for hysterectomy and other potential operative complications. Numerous medical and surgical techniques have been developed to minimize potentially significant blood loss during abdominal, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted myomectomies. Combined with judicious preoperative assessment, these techniques substantially enhance patient safety during a myomectomy and outcomes during recovery.

Techniques to reduce blood loss during open myomectomy: a qualitative review of literature

Open myomectomy is the most adopted surgical strategy in the conservative treatment of uterine fibroids. According to several studies, the likelihood that a woman could develop uterine myomas is estimated around 75% by the age of 50. Open myomectomy is nonetheless a complicated surgery in terms of blood loss and need for transfusion. Many strategies have been published with the aim of limiting intra and post-operative bleeding complications. The scope of this review is to describe in detail the different techniques reported in literature focusing on their validity and safety.

Interventions to reduce haemorrhage during myomectomy for fibroids

BACKGROUND

Benign smooth muscle tumours of the uterus, known as fibroids or myomas, are often symptomless. However, about one-third of women with fibroids will present with symptoms that are severe enough to warrant treatment. The standard treatment of symptomatic fibroids is hysterectomy (that is surgical removal of the uterus) for women who have completed childbearing, and myomectomy for women who desire future childbearing or simply want to preserve their uterus. Myomectomy, the surgical removal of myomas, can be associated with life-threatening bleeding. Excessive bleeding can necessitate emergency blood transfusion. Knowledge of the effectiveness of the interventions to reduce bleeding during myomectomy is essential to enable evidence-based clinical decisions. This is an update of the review published in The Cochrane Library (2011, Issue 11).

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness, safety, tolerability and costs of interventions to reduce blood loss during myomectomy.

SEARCH METHODS

In June 2014, we conducted electronic searches in the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycINFO, and trial registers for ongoing and registered trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We selected randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared potential interventions to reduce blood loss during myomectomy to placebo or no treatment.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

The two authors independently selected RCTs for inclusion, assessed the risk of bias and extracted data from the included RCTs. The primary review outcomes were blood loss and need for blood transfusion. We expressed study results as mean differences (MD) for continuous data and odds ratios for dichotomous data, with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We assessed the quality of evidence using GRADE methods.

MAIN RESULTS

Eighteen RCTs with 1250 participants met our inclusion criteria. The studies were conducted in hospital settings in low, middle and high income countries.Blood lossWe found significant reductions in blood loss with the following interventions: vaginal misoprostol (2 RCTs, 89 women: MD -97.88 ml, 95% CI -125.52 to -70.24; I(2) = 43%; moderate-quality evidence); intramyometrial vasopressin (3 RCTs, 128 women: MD -245.87 ml, 95% CI -434.58 to -57.16; I(2) = 98%; moderate-quality evidence); intramyometrial bupivacaine plus epinephrine (1 RCT, 60 women: MD -68.60 ml, 95% CI -93.69 to -43.51; low-quality evidence); intravenous tranexamic acid (1 RCT, 100 women: MD -243 ml, 95% CI -460.02 to -25.98; low-quality evidence); gelatin-thrombin matrix (1 RCT, 50 women: MD -545.00 ml, 95% CI -593.26 to -496.74; low-quality evidence); intravenous ascorbic acid (1 RCT, 102 women: MD -411.46 ml, 95% CI -502.58 to -320.34; low-quality evidence); vaginal dinoprostone (1 RCT, 108 women: MD -131.60 ml, 95% CI -253.42 to -9.78; low-quality evidence); loop ligation of the myoma pseudocapsule (1 RCT, 70 women: MD -305.01 ml, 95% CI -354.83 to -255.19; low-quality evidence); and a fibrin sealant patch (1 RCT, 70 women: MD -26.50 ml, 95% CI -44.47 to -8.53; low-quality evidence). We found evidence of significant reductions in blood loss with a polyglactin suture (1 RCT, 28 women: MD -1870.0 ml, 95% CI -2547.16 to 1192.84) or a Foley catheter (1 RCT, 93 women: MD -240.70 ml, 95% CI -359.61 to -121.79) tied around the cervix. However, pooling data from these peri-cervical tourniquet RCTs revealed significant heterogeneity of the effects (2 RCTs, 121 women: MD (random) -1019.85 ml, 95% CI -2615.02 to 575.32; I(2) = 95%; low-quality evidence). There was no good evidence of an effect on blood loss with oxytocin, morcellation or clipping of the uterine artery.Need for blood transfusion We found significant reductions in the need for blood transfusion with vasopressin (2 RCTs, 90 women: OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.74; I(2) = 0%; moderate-quality evidence); peri-cervical tourniquet (2 RCTs, 121 women: OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.84; I(2) = 69%; low-quality evidence); gelatin-thrombin matrix (1 RCT, 100 women: OR 0.01, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.10; low-quality evidence) and dinoprostone (1 RCT, 108 women: OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.81; low-quality evidence), but no evidence of effect on the need for blood transfusion with misoprostol, oxytocin, tranexamic acid, ascorbic acid, loop ligation of the myoma pseudocapsule and a fibrin sealant patch.There were insufficient data on the adverse effects and costs of the different interventions.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

At present there is moderate-quality evidence that misoprostol may reduce bleeding during myomectomy, and low-quality evidence that bupivacaine plus epinephrine, tranexamic acid, gelatin-thrombin matrix, a peri-cervical tourniquet, ascorbic acid, dinoprostone, loop ligation and a fibrin sealant patch may reduce bleeding during myomectomy. There is no evidence that oxytocin, morcellation and temporary clipping of the uterine artery reduce blood loss. Further well designed studies are required to establish the effectiveness, safety and costs of different interventions for reducing blood loss during myomectomy.

Utility of cell salvage in women undergoing abdominal myomectomy

OBJECTIVE

We examined the use and cost of autologous blood cell salvage in women who undergo abdominal myomectomy.

STUDY DESIGN

Patients who underwent abdominal myomectomy from 2007-2011 were identified. Use of the cell salvage system and reinfusion of autologous blood in women who had the system set-up were analyzed. Cost was examined by directly reported data.

RESULTS

We identified 607 patients who underwent abdominal myomectomy. Four hundred twenty-five women (70%) had the set-up of the cell salvage system. Cell-salvaged blood was processed and reinfused into 85 of these subjects (20%). In a multivariable model, performance of myomectomy by a gynecologic-specific surgeon (odds ratio [OR], 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-3.59), >5 myomas (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.27-4.89), and larger uterine size statistically were associated significantly with cell-salvage device set-up. Conversely, having a reproductive-endocrinology-infertility specialist as the surgeon was associated with a significant reduction in cell-salvage system set-up (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.21-0.66). For the women who had cell-salvage system set-up, uterine size of >15-19 weeks of gestation (OR, 3.22; 95% CI, 1.56-8.95) or ≥20 weeks of gestation (OR, 4.62; 95% CI, 1.45-14.73), operating time of >120 minutes (OR, 3.98; 95% CI, 1.70-9.29), and intraoperative blood loss of >1000 mL (OR, 26.31; 95% CI, 10.49-65.99) were associated significantly with a higher incidence of reinfusion of cell-salvaged blood.

CONCLUSION

The routine use of cell salvage in women who undergo abdominal myomectomy does not appear to be warranted. Cell-salvage set-up appears to be cost-effective only when reinfused, but clinical characteristics cannot predict accurately which women will require reinfusion of cell-salvaged blood.

Interventions to reduce haemorrhage during myomectomy for fibroids

BACKGROUND

Uterine myomas (fibroids) are benign tumours of the uterus. Myomectomy, the surgical removal of myomas, can be associated with life-threatening bleeding and prolonged postoperative stay. Knowledge of the effectiveness of the interventions to reduce bleeding during myomectomy is essential to enable evidence-based clinical decisions. This is an update of the review published in The Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2009.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness, safety, tolerability, and costs of interventions to reduce blood loss during myomectomy.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Electronic searches were undertaken in the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2011, Issue 3), MEDLINE (1950 to February 2011), EMBASE (1980 to February 2011), CINAHL (1982 to February 2011), and PsycINFO (1801 to February 2011).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the use of interventions to reduce blood loss during myomectomy to placebo or no treatment were included.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

The two authors independently selected RCTs for inclusion, assessed the methodological quality of trials, and extracted data. We expressed study results as mean differences (MD) for continuous data and odds ratios for dichotomous data, with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

MAIN RESULTS

Twelve RCTs with 674 participants met our inclusion criteria. The interventions were intramyometrial vasopressin (two RCTs), intravenous oxytocin (two RCTs), peri-cervical tourniquet (two RCTs), and one RCT each for vaginal misoprostol, gelatin thrombin matrix, chemical dissection with sodium-2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (mesna), intramyometrial bupivacaine plus epinephrine, tranexamic acid, and myoma enucleation by morcellation. We found significant reductions in blood loss with misoprostol (MD -149.00 ml, 95% CI -229.24 to -68.76), vasopressin (MD -298.72 ml, 95% CI -593.10 to -4.34; I(2) = 99%), bupivacaine plus epinephrine (MD -68.60 ml, 95% CI -93.69 to - 43.51), tranexamic acid (MD -243 ml, 95% CI -460 to -25.98), peri-cervical tourniquet (MD -289.44, 95% CI -406.55 to -172.32; I(2) = 95%), and gelatin-thrombin matrix (MD -545.00 ml, 95% CI -593.26 to -496.74). There was no evidence of an effect on blood loss with oxytocin or morcellation. None of the interventions significantly increased myomectomy-related complications. The trials did not assess the costs of the different interventions.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is limited evidence that misoprostol, vasopressin, bupivacaine plus epinephrine, tranexamic acid, gelatin thrombin matrix, peri-cervical tourniquet, and mesna may reduce bleeding during myomectomy. Bupivacaine plus epinephrine has limited clinical importance compared with other interventions as the clinical impact was small. There is no evidence that oxytocin and morcellation reduce blood loss. Further well designed studies are required to establish effectiveness, safety and the costs of different interventions for reducing blood loss during myomectomy.

Interventions to reduce haemorrhage during myomectomy for fibroids

BACKGROUND

Uterine myomas (fibroids) are benign tumours of the uterus. Myomectomy, the surgical removal of myomas, is an important treatment option especially for women who wish to preserve their uteri. The major problem with myomectomy is excessive bleeding, which can be life-threatening and prolong postoperative stay. Knowledge of the effectiveness of the interventions to reduce bleeding during myomectomy is essential to enable evidence-based clinical decisions.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness, safety, tolerability, and costs of interventions to reduce blood loss during myomectomy.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Electronic searches were undertaken in the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2008, Issue 3), MEDLINE (1950 to September 2008), EMBASE (1980 to September 2008), CINAHL (1982 to September 2008), and PsycINFO (up to September 2008).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the use of interventions to reduce blood loss during myomectomy to placebo or no treatment were included.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

The two authors independently selected RCTs for inclusion, assessed the methodological quality of trials, and extracted data. We expressed study results as mean differences (MD) for continuous data and odds ratios for dichotomous data, with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

MAIN RESULTS

Ten RCTs with 531 participants met our inclusion criteria: intramyometrial vasopressin and analogues (two trials), intravenous oxytocin (two trials), and one RCT for each of the interventions vaginal misoprostol, peri-cervical tourniquet, chemical dissection with sodium-2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (mesna), intramyometrial bupivacaine plus epinephrine, tranexamic acid and the enucleation of myoma by morcellation while it is attached to the uterus. We found significant reductions in blood loss with misoprostol (MD -149.00 ml, 95% CI -229.24 to -68.76), vasopressin and analogues (MD -298.72 ml, 95% CI -593.10 to -4.34), bupivacaine plus epinephrine (MD -68.60 ml, 95% CI -93.69 to - 43.51), tranexamic acid (MD -243 ml, 95% CI -460 to -25.98), and peri-cervical tourniquet (MD -1870.00 ml, 95% CI -2547.16 to -1192.84). There was no evidence of effect on blood loss with myoma enucleation by morcellation or oxytocin. The trials did not assess the tolerability and costs of the different interventions.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Evidence is limited from a few RCTs that misoprostol, vasopressin, bupivacaine plus epinephrine, tranexamic acid, tourniquet, and mesna may reduce bleeding during myomectomy. There is no evidence that oxytocin and morcellation have an effect on intraoperative blood loss. There is a need for adequately powered RCTs to shed more light on the effectiveness, safety, and costs of different interventions in reducing blood loss during myomectomy.

A systematic review of randomized controlled trials to reduce hemorrhage during myomectomy for uterine fibroids

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness and safety of interventions to reduce blood loss during myomectomy.

METHODS

Electronic searches of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and EMBASE, between 1966 and 2006 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

RESULTS

We found significant reductions in blood loss with vaginal misoprostol (weighted mean difference [WMD] -149.00 mL, 95% confidence interval [CI] -229.24 to -68.76); intramyometrial vasopressin and analogues (WMD -298.72 mL, 95% CI -593.10 to -4.34); intramyometrial bupivacaine plus epinephrine (WMD -68.60 mL, 95% CI -93.69 to -43.51); and pericervical tourniquet (WMD -1870.00 mL, 95% CI -2547.16 to -1192.84). There was no evidence of effect in blood loss with myoma enucleation by morcellation and oxytocin.

CONCLUSION

There is limited evidence from a few RCTs that some interventions may reduce bleeding during myomectomy. There is need for adequately powered RCTs to shed more light on the effectiveness, safety, and cost of different interventions to reduce blood loss during myomectomy.

Oxytocin infusion in laparoscopic myomectomy may decrease operative blood loss

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the influence of oxytocin on operative blood loss during laparoscopic myomectomy (LM).

DESIGN

Prospective clinical study (Canadian Task Force classification I).

SETTING

Tertiary care university hospital.

PATIENTS

Sixty women scheduled for myomectomy because of symptomatic uterine myomas.

INTERVENTION

Two ampules of oxytocin (10 u/mL/amp) were added to 1000 mL of saline solution running at the rate of 40 mU/min during the course of LM.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Blood loss and blood transfusion rate were significantly greater in the group without oxytocin infusion (group B) than in the group with oxytocin infusion (group A), with 445.0 +/- 268.6 mL (95% CI 344.7-545.3) versus 269.5 +/- 225.8 mL (95% CI 185.2-353.8)/(p <.05), and 36.7% versus 6.7% (p <.05), respectively. There was no significant difference in average age, body weight, or numbers of vaginal delivery and cesarean sections between the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in mean total myoma weight, main myoma size, postoperative stay, and complications between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

Oxytocin infusion combined with skillful surgical techniques may decrease operative blood loss and blood transfusion during LM.

Interventions to reduce haemorrhage during myomectomy for fibroids

BACKGROUND

Uterine myomas (fibroids) are benign tumours of the uterus. Myomectomy, the surgical removal of the myomas, is an important treatment option especially for women who desire to preserve their uteri. The major problem with myomectomy is excessive bleeding from increased uterine blood supply, and this can be life-threatening and prolong postoperative stay. Knowledge of the effectiveness of the interventions used to reduce blood loss during myomectomy is essential to enable evidence-based clinical decisions.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness and safety of interventions (other than GnRH analogues) to reduce blood loss during myomectomy.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Electronic searches were undertaken in the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group specialised register, CENTRAL (Cochrane Library Issue 1, 2006), MEDLINE (1966 to March 2006), EMBASE (1980 to March 2006), Current Contents (1993 to March 2006), the National Research Register, and the National Library of Medicine's Clinical Trial Register (up to March 2006).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared interventions to reduce blood loss during myomectomy to placebo or no treatment were included.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

The two authors independently selected RCTs for inclusion, assessed the methodological quality and extracted data. We expressed study results as weighted mean differences (WMD) for continuous data, and odds ratios for dichotomous data.

MAIN RESULTS

Eight RCTs met the inclusion criteria: two on intramyometrial vasopressin and analogues, and one each on vaginal misoprostol, IV oxytocin, pericervical tourniquet, chemical dissection with mesna, intramyometrial bupivacaine plus epinephrine and the enucleation of myoma by morcellation while it is attached to the uterus. We found significant reductions in blood loss with misoprostol (WMD -149.00 ml, 95% confidence interval [CI] -229.24 to -68.76), vasopressin and analogues (WMD -298.72 ml, 95% CI -593.10 to -4.34), bupivacaine plus epinephrine (WMD -68.60 ml, 95% CI -93.69 to - 43.51), and pericervical tourniquet (WMD -1870.00 ml, 95% CI -2547.16 to -1192.84). There was no evidence of effect in blood loss with myoma enucleation by morcellation and oxytocin. The trials did not assess the tolerability and costs of different interventions.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is limited evidence from a few RCTs that misoprostol, vasopressin, bupivacaine plus epinephrine, tourniquet and mesna may reduce bleeding during myomectomy. There is no evidence that oxytocin and morcellation have an effect on intraoperative blood loss. There is need for adequately powered RCTs to shed more light on the effectiveness, safety and costs of different interventions in reducing blood loss during myomectomy.