Sep 22 • SURGhub Team

New SURGhub Course Helps Surgical Teams Prevent Postpartum Haemorrhage

A free short course from the Global Surgery Foundation trains obstetric, anaesthesia, midwifery and nursing teams in the latest WHO guidance on heat-stable carbetocin for preventing postpartum haemorrhage at caesarean section.

Use of Heat-Stable Carbetocin for Prevention of Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) at Caesarean Section is now available in the course catalogue.
Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) remains one of the leading causes of maternal death worldwide, accounting for around 32% of all maternal deaths related to cesarean section and much of that burden falls on facilities where refrigeration is unreliable and the quality of oxytocin cannot be guaranteed.

In its latest PPH guidelines, the World Health Organization recommends heat-stable carbetocin for preventing PPH after all births, including caesarean section. In the Global Surgery Foundation’s safe caesarean section programmes in Kenya, Nepal and Nigeria, complications linked to PPH are among the most frequent problems facilities report. Getting the medicines on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines into those facilities matters. So does using them correctly once they arrive.
"Effective prevention is essential to reducing maternal mortality and morbidity, particularly in areas where resources and infrastructure pose daily challenges"
— Dr. Jean Chamberlain, Clinical Obstetrics Lead, Global Surgery Foundation
A new course on SURGhub addresses the second of those, for women who need a caesarean section. Use of Heat-Stable Carbetocin for Prevention of Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) at Caesarean Section is a short clinical module developed by the Global Surgery Foundation. It is available on SURGhub to more than 63,000 health workers in over 200 countries and territories.

"Effective prevention is essential to reducing maternal mortality and morbidity, particularly in areas where resources and infrastructure pose daily challenges," says Dr. Jean Chamberlain, Clinical Obstetrics Lead at the Global Surgery Foundation.

A uterotonic that does not need a fridge

Heat-stable carbetocin is a long-acting oxytocin analogue included on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines. Unlike oxytocin, it does not require refrigeration and remains stable for up to 48 months at 30°C. It has a similar onset of action to oxytocin but a half-life around eight times longer, so a single standard dose provides a prolonged duration of uterine contraction and may reduce the need for additional uterotonics.
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“Access to the medicines that can save women who need a caesarean section should be a priority, and with access must come correct use”
- Dr. Mélanie Samson, Senior Technical Officer, Women’s Health, Global Surgery Foundation

Safe use starts with knowing when not to use it

The course sets out the uterotonics currently approved for PPH prevention and where heat-stable carbetocin fits within WHO guidance. It covers indications and the strict contraindications, in particular that the drug must never be used for labour induction or augmentation, or before the birth of the baby. It closes with practical guidance on dosing, timing, administration and storage.

One course for the whole surgical team

The course forms part of the Global Surgery Foundation’s work with local partners in Kenya, Nepal and Nigeria to improve access to timely, safe and respectful obstetric care. That work combines training and mentorship for surgical teams with facility readiness, community engagement, evidence generation and networks of care for women and newborns.

"PPH prevention is critical for all births, and access to the medicines that can save women who need a caesarean section should be a priority. With access must come correct use by health professionals, to maximise quality along the continuum," says Dr Mélanie Samson, Senior Technical Officer, Women’s Health at the Global Surgery Foundation. "Our approach with local partners and surgical teams is to strengthen good practice for all births, including for mothers who need a caesarean section. This course raises awareness and gives every member of the team a shared understanding of how to prevent one of the most dangerous complications."

Designed for health professionals in obstetrics, anaesthesia, midwifery and perioperative nursing, the course takes less than one hour to complete. It combines short video introductions, interactive material and pre- and post-course assessments, and issues a shareable certificate on completion. It is included for free with a SURGhub account.

Use of Heat-Stable Carbetocin for Prevention of Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) at Caesarean Section

Topic: A clinical overview of the WHO-recommended long-acting oxytocin analogue for preventing postpartum haemorrhage with a specific focus on obstetric surgery.

Description: This course provides a focused clinical overview of Heat-Stable Carbetocin (HSC), a long-acting oxytocin analogue recommended by the WHO for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) for vaginal as well as cesarean deliveries. The module covers the critical differences between HSC and standard oxytocin, specifically highlighting HSC’s stability at higher temperatures (30°C) and its longer duration of action. Learners will gain practical knowledge on indications, strict contraindications, storage requirements, and administration protocols to ensure safe obstetric surgery.

 SURGhub is a joint initiative of
 Supported by
In association with
Global Surgery Foundation
United Nations Institute for Training and Research
RCSI Institute for Global Surgery
Johnson & Johnson Foundation
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