A prospective cohort study evaluating the cost-effectiveness of carbetocin for prevention of postpartum haemorrhage in caesarean sections

Abstract

Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. Prophylaxis with oxytocic medication is recommended by the WHO to prevent its occurrence. Carbetocin is a newer oxytocic, with potential to lower PPH rates, reduce the total use of oxytocic drugs and lead to financial savings. Meta-analyses have confirmed a reduction in the use of additional oxytocic medication with the use of carbetocin compared to oxytocin. However, there are few studies evaluating the costs of carbetocin prophylaxis. We carried out a prospective cohort study evaluating the financial impact of carbetocin, following its introduction at our centre for caesarean section. We collected data for 400 patients in total, making this, to our knowledge, the largest study conducted on this topic. We found a significant reduction in PPH rates and the use of additional oxytocics with projected overall financial savings of £68.93 per patient with the use of carbetocin.

Impact statement

• It is well established that carbetocin reduces the use of secondary oxytocics compared to oxytocin alone in the active management of the third stage of labour. Evidence for reduction of post-partum haemorrhage and its cost effectiveness are more equivocal. Our study demonstrates that carbetocin also reduces post-partum haemorrhage, use of blood and blood products and midwifery recovery time in the setting of caesarean section. We have also demonstrated that despite the increased index cost of carbetocin it delivers an overall substantial cost benefit. The implications of these findings are of reduced morbidity, faster recovery and cost savings in these times of austerity in the UK. It allows more efficient labour distribution of midwives, particularly in the setting of staff shortages across the NHS. A randomised control trial in this area needs to be conducted to determine the cost benefit of carbetocin and with this and post-partum haemorrhage rates as the primary outcome measures.

Keywords:

• Carbetocin
• oxytocin
• postpartum haemorrhage
• caesarean section
• cost evaluation

Disclosure statement

The authors report no declarations of interest.

Funding

No funding was received for this study and the authors receive no funding otherwise.