[Indications for tocolysis. A prospective study]

Abstract

In a prospectively randomised group of pregnant patients showing signs of prematurity, who had undergone long-term tocolysis between the 28th and 38th week of gestation--mainly with Fenoterol--the interval between the end of the tocolytic therapy and the delivery is noted. According to the duration of the end of tocolysis to delivery interval (TEDI) the indication for tocolysis can be retrospectively investigated. In patients where the TEDI was 72 hours or less, tocolysis is regarded as being necessary, and in patients with TEDI of longer than 72 hours, tocolysis is regarded as questionable or unnecessary. In this study in 49% of the cases tocolysis was necessary, whereby the primapara had a shorter TEDI on the average than the multipara. Both groups with short and long TEDI are compared with reference to obstetrical parameters, whereby virtually only the greater anamnestic strain of the patients with short TEDI emerged. There is not easily recognizable uniform criterion which can identify prospectively those patients whose baby is born within 72 hours after the tocolytic therapy has been discontinued. The results are discussed under the aspect of unsolved problems in the indication for tocolytic treatment.