COMPARATIVE-STUDY ON MATERNAL SIDE-EFFECT S OF DIFFERENT INTRAVENOUS FENOTEROL THERAPY FORMS OF PRETERM LABOR

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare different regim es of intravenous fenoterol tocolysis concerning their side effects. M ethods: A total of 59 patients with intravenous tocolysis due to prete rm labor has been studied. They were chronologically alternating and t hus randomly stratified into three groups: (a) continuos i.v.-tocolysi s and oral application of magnesium sulfate (b) continuos i.v.-tocolys is and i.v.-application of magnesium sulfate (c) pulsatile i.v.-applic ation of fenoterol (bolus tocolysis) and oral application of magnesium sulfate For all groups, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pres sure, need for beta-blockers, K+, water balance over 24 hours as well as different subjective side effects were quantified. Results: The sid e effects were found to be significantly less among patients treated w ith bolus tocolysis and they were also found to be slightly less in co ntinous tocolysis with i.v.-application of magne slum compared to cont inous tocolysis with oral Mg2+ substitution; however, the difference b etween the two groups treated with continuos tocolysis was not signifi cant. Conclucion: The present results suggest that bolus tocolysis sho ws significantly less side effects compared to the continous tocolysis and thus it should be favored in clinical practise.