| Title | Prevention of preterm birth: early detection and aggressive treatment with terbutaline. | | Author(s) | Adkins RT, Van Hooydonk JE, Bressman PL, Growdon JH, Bolen PR, Varin JC, Thompson BR | | Institution | PharmaThera Inc, Nashville, Tennessee. | | Source | South Med J 1993 Feb; 86(2):157-64. | | MeSH | Adult
Birth Weight
Cervix Uteri
Comorbidity
Drug Therapy, Combination
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Gestational Age
Home Care Services
Humans
Infusions, Parenteral
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
Length of Stay
Magnesium Sulfate
Male
Mass Screening
Obstetric Labor, Premature
Patient Compliance
Patient Education
Physical Examination
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome
Program Evaluation
Risk Factors
Self Medication
Terbutaline
| | Abstract | We evaluated a program for prevention of preterm birth involving early detection and aggressive intervention with subcutaneous terbutaline pump therapy in a high-risk, private patient population. Risk factor screening, frequent cervical examinations, and intensive patient education were used to detect preterm labor before it progressed to an advanced stage. Home terbutaline pump therapy was prescribed for patients with uterine contractions associated with progressive cervical change, after stabilization with IV magnesium sulfate. In this study of 51 patients, home terbutaline pump therapy was successful in 98% of the cases, prolonging pregnancy an average of 6.6 weeks. Mean gestational age at delivery was 37 +/- 1.4 weeks, and infant birth weight averaged 3 kg. Only 22% of infants required admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, with a mean length of stay of 7.25 days. Population factors in this compliant, well-educated patient group may have contributed to the positive outcomes achieved. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
| | PubMed ID | 8240475 |
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