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Tocolysis for the treatment of preterm labour - a clinically based review

Queen Charlottes and Chelsea Hospital Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HN, UK. email: k.groom{at}imperial.ac.uk (corresponding author)

Phillip R Bennett, PhD MD FRCOG, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Imperial College London, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Queen Charlottes and Chelsea Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HN, UK.

Preterm labour (labour occurring between 20 to 36 completed weeks of gestation) is a relatively common complication of pregnancy. It is a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity, especially when delivery occurs very early. There are a number of risk factors for preterm delivery and management centres around prolonging the pregnancy and promoting fetal lung maturity in order to reduce neonatal morbidity. This review concentrates on the acute management of preterm labour and considers the mechanisms of action of tocolytic drugs, the rationale for their use and their possible benefits and adverse effects.

Keywords Keywords / gestation / preterm labour / neonatal morbidity / tocolytic