Effect of terbutaline on latency period in preterm premature rupture of membranes.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether terbutaline is able to prolong the latency period in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and compare maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in the terbutaline and nontocolysis groups.


METHODS
This study retrospectively analyzed data from women with singleton pregnancies (gestational ages between 28 and 34 weeks) suffering from PPROM from January 1998 to December 2009.


RESULTS
A total of 163 cases of PPROM were analyzed; there were 61 cases (37.4%) in the terbutaline group and 102 cases (62.6%) in the nontocolysis group. The median latency period was comparable in the two groups (78 vs. 75 h, p = 0.44). The percentage of patients who did not deliver within 48 h was significantly higher in the terbutaline group compared with the nontocolysis group (78.7 vs. 62.7%, p = 0.03). There were no differences in maternal morbidity and mortality, and neonatal mortality between the two groups. Interestingly, neonatal infectious morbidity was significantly higher in the terbutaline group when compared with the nontocolysis group.


CONCLUSIONS
Terbutaline cannot prolong the latency period in PPROM. There were no differences in maternal morbidity and mortality. However, neonatal infectious morbidity was higher in the terbutaline group.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Rama IV Road, Bangkok, Thailand.
Lalita
L
Kulmala
Vorapong
V
Phupong
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013726:Terbutaline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D013726:Terbutaline