A COMPARISON OF MAGNESIUM-SULFATE AND INDOMETHACIN TO MAGNESIUM-SULFATE ONLY FOR TOCOLYSIS IN PRETERM LABOR WITH ADVANCED CERVICAL-DILATION

Preterm labor becomes more difficult to inhibit as the degree of cervi cal dilation increases. Indeed, some physicians do not even attempt to colysis with advanced cervical dilation. We compared single- versus do uble-agent tocolytic therapy when the cervix was dilated 3 cm or great er. We conducted a retrospective study of 44 patients with preterm lab or of unknown etiology and with cervical dilation of greater than 3 cm . At the admitting physician's discretion, patients were treated with either magnesium sulfate or with magnesium sulfate and indomethacin in combination. Longer duration of successful tocolysis was noted in the group that received both magnesium sulfate and indomethacin (368.3 ho urs versus 70.9 hours). No maternal complications occurred in either g roup. These pilot data suggest that tocolysis with magnesium sulfate a nd indomethacin is a safe, effective method of tocolysis inpatients wi th advanced cervical dilation.