The tocolytic role of nifedipine in preventing preterm labour pain

Abstract

This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of oral nifedipine to reduce labour pain in patient with preterm labour, to complete the doses of steroids in lung maturity and in utero transfer to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and to evaluate the maternal adverse effects and neonatal outcome. Diagnosed cases of preterm labour (between 24 to 34 weeks gestation) were randomly selected. Among them 50 patients were given oral nifedipine (n=50) and 50 patients were observed with no treatment (n=50). There were no statistically significant differences in age, race, parity, preterm delivery risk factor between the groups. At first the labour pain were observed through Continuous CTG in first hour, then intermittent CTG. The patient in the Nifedipine group can prolong the pregnancy time 36.0±3.2 wks than 30.6±3.1 wks in the control group (p<0.05) with reduced neonatal complications and admission to NICU. Oral nifedipine in patients with preterm labour pain as Tocolytic therapy has significantly prolonged pregnancy with lesser neonatal problems and fewer maternal adverse effects.