Neonatal Outcome After Hexoprenaline Compared with Atosiban After Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes

Abstract

Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) occurs in up to 3% of all pregnancies. Only few comparative studies have investigated potential risks and benefits between different tocolytic substances in women with PPROM. The aim of this study was to compare the neonatal short term outcome after tocolysis with Atosiban or Hexoprenaline in women with PPROM. This is a retrospective observational cohort study of women with PPROM between 24 and 32 weeks of gestation comparing neonatal and maternal outcome after tocolysis with atosiban or hexoprenaline. Outcome parameters were short term neonatal outcome, maternal tocolytic efficacy, effectiveness and tolerability and neonatal neurodevelopmental long-term outcome. Continuous variables were compared using t-Test or Mann–Whitney U test, as appropriate. For categorical variables Chi-square after Pearson and Fisher exact-test were used to compare the two groups. 93 women were included into this study with 42 women receiving hexoprenaline and 51 women receiving atosiban as primary tocolytic treatment. Mean gestational age was 29 weeks in both groups at the time PPROM. No differences were found for any short term neonatal outcome parameters, tocolytic efficacy, effectiveness and tolerability and neonatal neurodevelopmental long-term outcome. Both hexoprenaline and atosiban do not affect the short and long term neonatal outcome in women with PPROM for the time of lung maturation.