title: Acute tocolysis for fetal distress: terbutaline versus magnesium sulphate.
abstract: Forty-six women in active labour who developed fetal distress requiring abdominal delivery were randomized to receive 0.25 mg of terbutaline (subcutaneously) or magnesium sulphate as a 4-g bolus (intravenously) to decrease uterine activity. The terbutaline-treated group in contrast to the magnesium sulphate-treated group had reduced uterine activity as measured by Montevideo units (p < 0.002). This decrease in uterine activity was noted more rapidly in all 23 patients who received terbutaline, 1.8 +/- 0.74 minutes compared to 7.5 +/- 2.1 minutes in the 16 of 23 patients (magnesium sulphate-treated women) in whom a decrease in uterine activity occurred (p < 0.001). Umbilical cord arterial blood pH at delivery was less than 7.20 in only 2 of the 23 patients treated with terbutaline versus 7 of the 23 in the magnesium sulphate-treated group. We conclude that terbutaline is an effective and more rapid-acting tocolytic agent to arrest uterine activity prior to delivery for fetal distress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center.
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Magann
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Cleveland
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Dockery
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress; D006801:Humans; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013726:Terbutaline / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015145:Tocolysis
chemical_list: D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D013726:Terbutaline