The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of acute tocolysis on severely
pathological cardiotocographic (CTG) readings during the first stage of labor. Seventy-three
consecutive parturients with full-term pregnancy were treated by acute tocolysis with
a β-mimetic agent after recognition of severe CTG abnormality in the first stage of
labor. The main outcome measures were normalization or persistence of the CTG pattern
after tocolysis. Risk factors with regard to CTG effect of tocolysis were also evaluated.
In 67% of cases the CTG pattern normalized at a mean of 4 minutes after the beginning
of intravenous tocolysis. No characteristic feature of the parturient, labor course,
CTG abnormality, or the parameters of uterine contractive activity was found to be
a predictive factor with regard to the CTG effect of tocolysis. No adverse effects
of tocolytic therapy were found. Tocolysis with a β-mimetic agent is an effective
method to normalize the CTG pattern during the first stage of labor, even in cases
without uterine hypertonicity.
KEYWORDS
Tocolysis - labor - β-mimetic agent - CTG abnormality
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Outi PalomäkiM.D.
Senior Consultant, Tampere University Hospital, PL 2000, 33521 Tampere, Finland
