A cohort comparison study on women in threatened preterm labor given nifedipine or nifedipine and salbutamol tocolysis in air medical retrieval

Authors

Breeanna Spring Walsh, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Fergus W. Gardiner
Dianne Bloxsome, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
David Ford, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Brennen W. Mills, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Simon M. Laws, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

Air Medical Journal

Volume

41

Issue

3

First Page

298

Last Page

302

PubMed ID

35595338

Publisher

Elsevier

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences / School of Nursing and Midwifery / Centre for Precision Health

RAS ID

44435

Funders

Department of Health

Comments

Walsh, B. S., Gardiner, F. W., Bloxsome, D., Ford, D., Mills, B. W., & Laws, S. M. (2022). A cohort comparison study on women in threatened preterm labor given nifedipine or nifedipine and salbutamol tocolysis in air medical retrieval. Air Medical Journal, 41(3), p. 298-302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amj.2022.02.005

Abstract

Objective: Women with threatened preterm labor in remote Australia often require tocolysis in the prevention of in-flight birth during air medical retrieval. However, debate exists over the tocolytic choice. Methods: A retrospective analysis was undertaken on data containing women who required air medical retrieval for threatened preterm labor within Western Australia between the years 2013 and 2018. Results: A total number of 236 air medical retrievals were deemed suitable for inclusion; 141 received nifedipine, and 95 women received salbutamol + nifedipine. Tocolytic efficaciousness was reported in 151 cases, proportionally more (P < .05) from the women who received salbutamol + nifedipine (n = 68, 71.6%) compared with the women who received nifedipine only (n = 83, 58.9%). Those receiving salbutamol + nifedipine were more likely to suffer maternal tachycardia (n = 87 [91.6%] vs. n = 62 [44.0%]), fetal tachycardia (n = 26 [27.4%] vs. n = 13 [9.2%]), nausea (n = 17 [17.9] vs. n = 5 [3.55%]), and vomiting (n = 12 [12.6%] vs. n = 2 [1.4%]). Three women who received salbutamol + nifedipine had serious side effects including echocardiographic changes, chest pain, and metabolic and lactic acidosis. Conclusion: Salbutamol + nifedipine tocolysis was proven to be more effective than nifedipine only. Although salbutamol + nifedipine had increased temporary side effects, most were nonsevere and managed in-flight.

DOI

10.1016/j.amj.2022.02.005

Related Publications

Spring, B. (2022). Remote preterm birth prevention: Comparison of nifedipine and salbutamol tocolysis in aeromedical retrieval. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2583

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