Review article
TREATMENT OF THREATENED PRETERM LABOR
Mirko Prodan
; Klinika za ginekologiju i porodništvo, Klinički bolnički centar Rijeka
Oleg Petrović
; Klinika za ginekologiju i porodništvo, Klinički bolnički centar Rijeka
Abstract
Preterm labor is a leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity, and still remains the greatest problem and challenge for modern perinatology. Prevention and treatment of preterm labor is difficult due to multiple risk and ethiological factors, some of them also unknown. In this paper various methods of treatments and pharmacological agents for prevention and inhibition of threatened preterm labor are discussed. Particularly some groups of tocolytic agents, their efficacy, and adverse effects have been analyzed. Tocolytic agents can delay delivery for 48 hours up to seven days, but whithout improvements on perinatal and neontatal outcome. Prolonging gestation with tocolytic agents allows administration of antenatal glucocorticosteroids to reduce incidence and severity of respiratory distress syndrome and also to allow transport in utero in the tertiary perinatal center with neonatal intensive care unit. It is the only proven effect of tocolytic therapy. Up till now, the best quality of antenatal care, hospitalization sometimes also preventive, in some cases of high risk pregnancies is the most effective strategy in decreasing prematurity and adverse consequences.
Keywords
threatened preterm labor; treatment; tocolytics
Hrčak ID:
62296
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2008.
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