Am J Perinatol 1997; 14(7): 405-409
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-994169
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1997 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Tocolytic Treatment for Preterm Contractions with and Without Cervical Changes

Haywood L. Brown, A. Kinney Hiett, Kathy A. Britton, Mureena A. Turnquest, Alan M. Golichowski
  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
04 March 2008 (online)

ABSTRACT

Our purpose was to evaluate the impact of intravenous and oral tocolysis on prolongation of gestation for women with preterm uterine contractions and/or labor. Candidates for evaluation and treatment including women with contractions between 24 and 35 weeks. Two hundred women (group I) without cervical changes met the protocol criteria and 175 women (group II) who presented with or developed cervical changes were treated by protocol. A representative sample of both groups received oral terbutaline maintenance therapy until 37 weeks' gestation. Primary outcome variables included the length of gestation obtained following initial treatment and the preterm birth rate. Women in group II were twice as likely to deliver before 35 weeks, 23% versus 9.5%, respectively, and to have a delivery before 37 weeks' gestation, 45% versus 22%, respectively, (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in days gained in utero for women on oral terbutaline for either group. Women in group II on oral therapy were more likely to be readmitted and retreated with parenteral tocolysis. In conclusion, oral maintenance tocolysis has no significant impact on further prolongation of pregnancy after intravenous tocolysis.