Carbetocin is preferred over oxytocin for prevention of PPH at cesarean section in high-income settings primarily because:

• A It is effective when given intramuscularly without IV access
• B It does not cause any transient hypotension unlike oxytocin
• C It has a longer duration of action (t½ ≈ 40 min) and reduces need for additional uterotonics ✓
• D It stimulates both oxytocin and vasopressin receptors equally

Explanation

Carbetocin is a synthetic oxytocin analogue with a half-life of approximately 40 minutes compared to oxytocin's 4–10 minutes; a single IV dose provides uterotonic effect for up to 1 hour, reducing the need for additional uterotonics at cesarean section. Like oxytocin, it can cause transient hypotension. It preferentially acts on uterine oxytocin receptors and is not primarily characterised by IM use in high-income settings (though the WHO heat-stable formulation enables IM use).

Reference: Williams Obstetrics, 26th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.