PRETERM LABOUR

Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy of Glyecryl trinitrate patch for prolonging gestation for more than 48 hours, 7 days or upto 37 weeks of gestation with Salbutamol in preterm labour. Study Design: Compartive descriptive study. Setting: Fatima Memorial HospitalLahore. Period: Dec 2003 to Jan 2005. Patients & Methods: The study was carried out on 60 pregnant patients admitted in hospital with thesymptoms and signs of preterm labour. The results were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 8.0. Results: Two groups (TransdermalGlyceryl Trinitrate group and Salbutamol) comprising 30 patients each were made. In Glyceryl Trinitrate group, transdermal patch was appliedand in Salbutamol group,. Intravenous infusion titrated according to frequency, duration and intensity of uterine contractions. All the patientsin each group were evaluated for prolongation of gestation for 48 hours till 37th week of gestation. The mean prolongation of pregnancy was26 days in GTN group and 32 days in Salbutamol group. The decrease in frequency of uterine contractions by 67.51 ± 7.74% in first 48 hoursof applying transdermal Glyceryl Trinitrate patch and by 80.14 ± 8.43 % in Salbutamol group which was statistically significant. Conclusion:Trinitrate appears to be a safe, well tolerated and non-invasive but less effectives method of suppressing uterine contraction in preterm labouras compared to Salbutamol.