Tocolytic therapy in threatened preterm labor Żaneta Kimber-Trojnar, Bożena Leszczyńska-Gorzelak, Beata Marciniak, Jacek Bartosiewicz, Jan Oleszczuk Ginekol Pol 2010; 81 (02): ICID: 905117
Article type: Review article
IC™ Value: 5.20
Abstract provided by Publisher
Summary
The most important benefit of tocolysis is a 48-hour prolongation of gestational age in order to administer corticosteroids to reduce perinatal mortality and morbidity, as well as, if necessary, to gain time for “in utero” transfer to a tertiary centre with neonatal facilities. The tocolytic agents used in clinical practice can be grouped into six classes, namely: calcium channel blockers, betamimetics, magnesium sulfate, cyclooxygenase inhibitors, oxytocin receptor antagonists and nitric oxide donors. The use of them should be individualized and based on tocolytic effectiveness, safety, gestational age as well as maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes. Data from clinical trials suggests that nifedipine appears to be the drug of first choice in the management of preterm labor.
