Role of Nifedipine as Tocolytic Agent in Preterm Labour

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of nifedipine as tocolytic agent in preterm labour. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Settings: Allied Hospital/ Divisional Head Quarter Hospital affiliated with Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad. Duration: from 2008 to 2009. Methodology: Sixty patients following inclusion and exclusion criteria on the basis of history and clinical examination were selected. Capsule nifedipine 10 mg (powder form) was administered sublingually every 15 minutes and no more 40 mg in 1 hour. Maintenance dose of slow release nifedipine (60-160mg) was administered orally twice daily for next 48 hours when the patient responded to initial sublingual regimen. Main outcome measures including arrest of pre-term labour and secondary outcome measures like maternal hypotension, tachycardia, headache, flushing, nausea and vomiting were observed Blood pressure of all patients was measured every 15 minutes as long as they were in pre-term labour and 4 hourly during next 24 hours. Fetal heart rate and uterine contractions were recorded during whole study period. SPSS version 10 was used to analyze descriptive statistics like frequencies and percentages. Results: Successful tocolysis occurred in 80 % of cases. The incidence of maternal side effects was very low of 60 patients only eight (13%) had side effects including hypotension (5%) 6 patients developed tachycardia (10%), headache occurred in 6 patients (10%). Only one patient had nausea (1.6%) and two suffered flushing (3.3%). Conclusion: The results of study indicated that nifedipine is an effective tocolytic agent with low side effect profile.