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THE UTERINE AND CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF SALBUTAMOL AND PRACTOLOL DURING LABOUR
Author(s) -
McDevitt D. G.,
Wallace R. J.,
Roberts A.,
Whitfield C. R.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1975.tb00667.x
Subject(s) - practolol , salbutamol , medicine , heart rate , anesthesia , fetus , pregnancy , blood pressure , asthma , propranolol , biology , genetics
Summary Intravenous salbutamol, a β‐adrenoceptor stimulant, given to nine patients in normal labour, with continuous monitoring of uterine activity and of the maternal and fetal cardiovascular systems, was shown to decrease uterine activity significantly; maternal and fetal heart rates were significantly increased, and maternal systolic and diastolic arterial pressures were significantly decreased during the infusion, although no treatment had to be discontinued because of these effects. Apart from worsening of low back pain during the infusion in one patient, subjective sideeffects were trivial. With the salbutamol infusion continued at an effective maintenance rate, the cardioselective β‐adrenoceptor blocking drug, practolol, given intravenously, reduced the maternal heart rate (although not significantly) but it did not alter the fetal heart rate; it also appeared to interfere transiently with the inhibiting action of salbutamol on uterine activity, but cervical dilatation was arrested until the salbutamol infusion was discontinued. At least in five patients, labour remained suppressed until oxytocin was infused intravenously.