摘要:The objective of research was to compare the effectiveness of sublingual misoprostol with intramuscular oxytocin in the active management of the third stage of labor. Patients to be treated with sublingual misoprostol (group A) or intramuscular oxytocin (group B) were selected and randomized to attend delivery at the Central Hospital "Dr. Urquinaona", Maracaibo, Venezuela. The general characteristics, changes in hemoglobin and hematocrit values, postpartum blood loss and adverse effects were evaluated. Complete data were obtained from 392 patients (195 from group A and 197 from group B) who were included in the final analysis. No significant differences were found between the groups with respect to the general characteristics (p = ns). There were not found significant differences in the mean values of pre and postpartum hemoglobin and hematocrit (p = ns). The estimated blood loss in patients in group A was significantly lower (p < 0.05), without differences in in the duration of the third stage of labor compared with patients of group B (p = ns). Patients in group A presented a higher frequency of shivering, nausea, fever and vomiting compared to patients in group B (p < 0.05). It is concluded that sublingual misoprostol diminished blood loss during third stage of labor when is used as pharmacological agent for active management of delivery compared with intramuscular oxytocin. However, adverse effects were more frequent than oxytocin.