Triplet pregnancy can be prolonged for a longer period with continuous subcutaneous terbutaline infusion than with oral terbutaline, said Dr. John P. Elliott of the Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix, Ariz., and his colleagues.
In their study of 104 triplet gestations, the overall average prolongation of gestation was 57.4 days (8.2 weeks) with a combined course of oral and subcutaneous terbutaline from the first episode of threatened preterm labor until delivery.
The women were put on oral terbutaline after their first episode of threatened preterm labor and subsequently received continuous subcutaneous terbutaline after recurrence of preterm contractions was identified. Patients receiving subcutaneous terbutaline added an average of 37.7 days to their gestation period after their first instance of threatened preterm labor vs. 19.6 days for oral terbutaline therapy
The total daily dosage of terbutaline was 5.5 times lower with continuous subcutaneous infusion than with oral treatment.
The study did not have a control group and was not designed to determine the overall efficacy or safety of maintenance tocolysis.
COPYRIGHT 2002 International Medical News Group
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group
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