Open AccessA Study of maternal ecg characteristics before and during intravenous tocolysis with β‐sympathicomimetics
Author(s) -
Mulders L. G. M.,
Boers G. H. J.,
PrickartzWijdeveld M. M.J.F.,
Hein P. R.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016348709022045
Subject(s) - medicine , repolarization , discontinuation , tachycardia , anesthesia , st depression , electrocardiography , cardiology , premature atrial contraction , depression (economics) , qt interval , st segment , atrial fibrillation , myocardial infarction , electrophysiology , economics , macroeconomics
Severe maternal complications during β‐mimetic therapy have been reported. In a study of maternal complications related to intravenous tocolysis, which covering a period of 2 years, we paid special attention to the maternal ECG before and during treatment. There was a high prevalence of pretreatment ECG changes: tachycardia (23.6%), disorders of impulse conduction (43.6%), ST‐depression (14.5%) and disorders of repolarization (43.6%). During intravenous 0‐mimetic therapy there was an increase in the prevalence of tachycardia, prolonged QT‐time and disorders of repolarization. We also studied the course in time of the different ECG characteristics during treatment. With regard to the ST‐depression, a possible physiological adaptation to the β‐mimetic drug is described. We could not find this possible adaptation with regard to the other ECG characteristics. None of the women in the studied group showed clinical signs of myocardial ischemia, notwithstanding the high prevalence of ECG changes. We conclude that the ECG criteria for discontinuation of tocolytic therapy need re‐evaluation.