Abstract
M A G N E s I u M sulfate is commonly used in obstetrics because it so effectively prevents the convulsions of eclampsia when administered in doses that rarely, if ever, produce any grossly deleterious effect on the mother or fetus. Hall and co-workers,1 however, have demonstrated that the magnesium ion in vitro inhibits the contractions of isolated strips of human gravid myometrium. Furthermore, they noted that in patients who received magnesium sulfate in large amounts by intravenous infusion, the duration of labor was longer than in those who did not. They concluded that the magnesium ion may also have a depressant action on uterine motility in vivo. While carrying out extensive hematological studies upon patients with eclampsia, we were impressed that not infrequently rather large volumes of red blood cells disappeared from the maternal circulation during parturition and the early puerperium. Moreover, it was often the impression that the observed external blood loss, during and soon after delivery, was excessive. Could it be that therapy with magnesium sulfate in these patients impaired myometrial contractility after the separation of the placenta, and as a
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.