Background: Open myomectomy remains the main option has been shown to have satisfactory results as regard fertility preservation and symptom resolution, especially when the number and size of leiomyomas do not permit any other routes of intervention. Hemorrhage remains the most important concern with open myomectomy. Blood loss during surgery mainly depends on the number, size of the removed fibroids and the technique adopted during myomectomy.
Objective: Evaluation of the effect of intra-operative oxytocin infusion in decreasing blood loss during abdominal myomectomy.
Patients and Methods: This controlled clinical trial was on 134 women: 67 interventional group and 67 control group who were candidates for elective abdominal myomectomy at Al-HusseinUniversityHospital. After induction of general anesthesia and immediately prior to the operation, an infusion of 30 IU oxytocin in 500 ml normal saline at a rate of 120 ml/h was started in the study group patients during myomectomy. In placebo group patients, a pure normal saline infusion was used at the same volume and rate.
Results: There was no significant difference between the studied groups regarding preoperative hemoglobin. Postoperative hemoglobin was significantly higher among oxytocin group. Hemoglobin reduction was significantly lower among oxytocin group.
Conclusion: The infusion of oxytocin intra-operatively (immediately after induction of general anesthesia) may be a safe and reliable method to help decrease blood loss during abdominal myomectomy.