ISSN:
1471-0528
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Intravenous salbutamol, a β-adrenoceptor stimulant, given to nine patients in normal labour, with continuous monitoring of uterine activity and of the maternal and fetal cardiovascular systems, was shown to decrease uterine activity significantly; maternal and fetal heart rates were significantly increased, and maternal systolic and diastolic arterial pressures were significantly decreased during the infusion, although no treatment had to be discontinued because of these effects. Apart from worsening of low back pain during the infusion in one patient, subjective sideeffects were trivial. With the salbutamol infusion continued at an effective maintenance rate, the cardioselective β-adrenoceptor blocking drug, practolol, given intravenously, reduced the maternal heart rate (although not significantly) but it did not alter the fetal heart rate; it also appeared to interfere transiently with the inhibiting action of salbutamol on uterine activity, but cervical dilatation was arrested until the salbutamol infusion was discontinued. At least in five patients, labour remained suppressed until oxytocin was infused intravenously.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1975.tb00667.x
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