title: Practice patterns in the management of threatened preterm labor in Korea: A multicenter retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to examine clinical practice patterns in the management of pregnant women admitted with threatened preterm labor (TPL) in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from women admitted with a diagnosis of TPL were collected from 22 hospitals. TPL was defined as regular uterine contractions with or without other symptoms such as pelvic pressure, backache, increased vaginal discharge, menstrual-like cramps, bleeding/show and cervical changes. Data on general patient information, clinical characteristics at admission, use of tocolytics, antibiotics, and corticosteroids, and pregnancy outcomes were collected using an online data collections system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 947 women with TPL were enrolled. First-line tocolysis was administered to 822 (86.8%) patients. As a first-line tocolysis, beta-agonists were used most frequently (510/822, 62.0%), followed by magnesium sulfate (183/822, 22.3%), calcium channel blockers (91/822, 11.1%), and atosiban (38/822, 4.6%). Of the 822 women with first-line tocolysis, second-line tocolysis were required in 364 (44.3%). Of 364 with second-line, 199 had third-line tocolysis (37.4%). Antibiotics were administered to 29.9% of patients (284/947) with single (215, 22.7%), dual (26, 2.7%), and triple combinations (43, 4.5%). Corticosteroids were administered to 420 (44.4%) patients. Betamethasone was administered to 298 patients (71.0%), and dexamethasone was administered to 122 patients (29.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Practice patterns in the management of TPL in Korea were quite various. It is needed to develop standardized practice guidelines for TPL management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Han Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kangwon National University, School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Hun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Na
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Science, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon Ae
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Geum Joon
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eulji University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwan Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eulji University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Chan Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyo Hoon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Suk Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sae Kyung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Yoon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Sung
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Gyu Yeon
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Han
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Cheol
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kil
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Woon
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Dan
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Clinical practical pattern; Pregnancy outcome; Premature birth; Threatened preterm labor