PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - ANTONIOS KOUTRAS
AU  - ZACHARIAS FASOULAKIS
AU  - ATHANASIOS SYLLAIOS
AU  - NIKOLAOS GARMPIS
AU  - MICHAIL DIAKOSAVVAS
AU  - ATHANASIOS PAGKALOS
AU  - THOMAS NTOUNIS
AU  - EMMANUEL N. KONTOMANOLIS
TI  - Physiology and Pathology of Contractility of the Myometrium
AID  - 10.21873/invivo.12392
DP  - 2021 May 01
TA  - In Vivo
PG  - 1401--1408
VI  - 35
IP  - 3
4099  - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/35/3/1401.short
4100  - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/35/3/1401.full
SO  - In Vivo2021 May 01; 35
AB  - Uterine atony is a serious obstetrical complication since it is the leading cause of postpartum hemorrhage. Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the 5 major causes of postpartum mortality; therefore, it requires immediate medical intervention, independent of whether delivery occurs normally or with a cesarean section. While in the past years most cases of postpartum hemorrhage were caused due to uterine atony following vaginal delivery, in recent years most PPH cases indicate a significant association with cesarean delivery. There are several methods used in order to avoid such a life-threatening complication, ranging from risk assessment to prevention, and finally medical intervention and management, if such an event occurs. In this scientific paper emphasis is given on the so-called “uterotonic” agents that are currently used, including oxytocin among others. It is, therefore, important to be familiar with these agents as well as understand the physiological mechanism by which they work, since they are used in everyday practice, not only for managing but also for preventing PPH. There are several potential questions that arise from the use of such “uterotonic” agents, and most specifically of oxytocin. Maybe one of the most important issues is the determination of optimal dosing of oxytocin in order to avoid PPH after a cesarean section.