title: Tocolysis during cervical ripening with vaginal PGE2.
abstract: Forty-two primigravidae with unripe cervices (modified Bishop score less than or equal to 5) were pretreated with 8 mg of oral salbutamol 30 min before vaginal administration of 5 mg of PGE2. The proportion of patients in established labour after treatment (19%) was markedly less than results reported previously and cervical improvement occurred in 86% of the non-labouring patients. The improved outcome of labour associated with the prior administration of PGE2 when the cervix is unripe, including reduced induction-to-delivery intervals and higher rates of vaginal delivery was maintained. Apart from some minor side-effects, there were no adverse effects noted as a direct consequence of the tocolytic; blood loss was not increased, although one patient suffered an intrapartum abruption. This approach allows a greater control of induced uterine activity and timing of delivery which may be of particular importance in women with suspected placental insufficiency.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Insull
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: I Z
authors.initials: IZ
authors.lastname: MacKenzie
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000420:Albuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D015145:Tocolysis
chemical_list: D015232:Dinoprostone; D000420:Albuterol