title: Effect of cervical length to the efficacy of nifedipine and bed rest for inhibiting threatened preterm labor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the success rates and gestational ages at delivery of nifedipine administration as a tocolytic agent to pregnant women with threatened preterm labor based on cervical length.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eighty eight pregnant women with threatened preterm labor between 26 and 35 weeks were enrolled in the present study. Cervical measurement was performed in all patients and divided in two groups. The first group, 60 cases, was patients with cervical length less than 30 mm. The second group, 128 cases, was patients with cervical length 30 mm or greater All women in each group were randomly inhibited uterine contraction with nifedipine and were bed rest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  If the cervical length was 30 mm or greater; nifedipine and bed rest succeeded to inhibit uterine contraction without statistical significance. Nifedipine was appropriate for contraction inhibition when the cervical length was less than 30 mm with statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nifedipine and bed rest can be used successfully to inhibit contractions in threatened preterm labor However nifedipine should be used if the cervical length is less than 30 mm. If cervical length is 30 mm or greater bed rest should be advised to avoid unnecessary medical intervention.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. siscw@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: Saifon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chawanpaiboon
authors.forename: Anuwat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sutantawibul
mesh_terms: D001510:Bed Rest; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D009543:Nifedipine