Cesárea electiva. Efecto de la oxitocina endovenosa en la pérdida hemática transoperatoria

objective: determine the most effective dose of oxytocin to reducing blood loss in elective cesarean section. method: it was realized a prospective, descriptive, randomized and double blind study in 150 female patients, both at term pregnancy with indication for elective cesarean, from july 2002 to february 2003; they were distributed in 5 groups and received 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 oxytocin units respectively. setting: obstetrical service. hospital universitario de caracas. results: the hemoglobin and hematocrit variations were respectively 1,25 g/dl and 3,88% (group a), 1,11 g/dl and 3,75% (group b), 0,89 g/dl and 2,91% (group c); 0,78 g/dl and 2,46% (group d) and 1,93 g/dl and 5,48% (group e) (p= 0,016). conclusion: ten, fifteen and twenty oxytocin units are the most effective dose to reducing blood loss.