title: Electrical pacemaker as a safe and feasible method for decreasing the uterine contractions of human preterm labor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to test the safety and feasibility of a system designed to decrease the uterine contractions of human preterm labor using a weak electrical current.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients in preterm labor had an electrode catheter placed in the posterior vaginal fornix and attached to an electrical pacemaker. Contraction intervals were determined during the 60-min study, in which minutes 0-20 was the preintervention control period (C1); 21-40 was the electrical intervention (EI), with a 10-s burst of current administered just before each expected contraction; and 41-60 was the postintervention control (C2). Mean intervals were calculated and compared mixed-model ANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients were studied. No maternal or fetal vital sign irregularities were seen. All the babies had a normal neonatal intensive care unit stay for gestational age. The respective mean contraction intervals for C1, EI, and C2 and their within- and between-subject standard deviations were 4.64 (±0.81, ±2.45), 5.71 (±3.03, ±1.62), and 3.83 (±0.83, ±1.31) min. There was a significant difference between EI and C2 (P=0.0078) and no difference between C1 and C2 or between EI and C1 (P=0.1373).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EI appears to be a safe and feasible method for decreasing preterm contractions. To confirm and test effectiveness, longer interventions and additional cases are needed.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karsdon
authors.forename: Manal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Daouk
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Graham G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Ashmead
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy; D014590:Uterine Contraction