| Methods |
3‐arm active‐controlled randomised trial |
| Participants |
300 women were randomised in a hospital setting in Egypt, Libya. The population comprised women of nulliparous, a singleton pregnancy, at low risk for PPH, who delivered by vaginal delivery. Exclusion criteria comprised women at high risk for PPH such as multiple pregnancy, polyhydramnios, placenta praevia, diabetes mellitus, renal disorders. |
| Interventions |
500 mcg of ergometrine administered by an IV bolus versus 200 mcg of misoprostol administered sublingually or rectally |
| Outcomes |
The study recorded the following outcomes: death; blood loss (mL); third stage duration (minutes); shivering. |
| Notes |
Contact with study authors for additional information: yes. Additional data from authors: no |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Randomly allocated but no further details were reported. |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Allocation concealment was not reported. |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
No blinding. |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Not blinded. |
| Objective assessment of blood loss |
High risk |
All patients were closely observed for time of placental delivery, amount of blood loss by Hb and haematocrit value pre and immediately post delivery (within 1 hour), {then calculation of estimated blood loss using the following equation EBL = (BV)X(HCTO‐HCTf)/HCT where: EBL = estimated blood loss, BV: blood volume= body weight X600 cc KG&HCTO = initial haematocrit HCTf = final haematocrit HCTave = (HCTO + HCTF)/2} |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
The study authors did not mention any incomplete outcome data. |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Unclear risk |
The protocol of the study was unavailable for verification. |
| Intention to treat analysis |
Unclear risk |
The authors did not specify whether all those who were enrolled and randomly allocated to treatment were included in the analysis, in the groups to which they were randomised. |
| Funding source |
Unclear risk |
Source(s) of funding for the study were not reported. |
