Drug used for placental delivery, aiding in uterine contraction and reducing postpartum hemorrhage but is contraindicated in asthmatics?

• A. Carboprost
• B. Oxytocin
• C. Misoprostol
• D. Methylergonovine

Answer: (A)

Carboprost is a prostaglandin F2alpha analog used after delivery to promote powerful uterine contractions, helping with placental expulsion and reducing postpartum hemorrhage from uterine atony. Its strong uterotonic effect is exactly what you want for placental delivery and blood loss control, but it has a notable respiratory side effect: it can induce bronchoconstriction. That risk makes it contraindicated in patients with asthma.

Other uterotonic options like oxytocin and misoprostol can stimulate the uterus without this specific asthma risk, and methylergonovine is effective for atony but carries vasoconstrictive and hypertensive considerations rather than asthma-related concerns. So the combination of facilitating placental delivery with a high risk of bronchospasm in asthmatics points to carboprost as the correct choice.