Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026

External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?
Published on: June 6, 2020
Severe cardiotocographic pathology at labor: effect of acute intravenous tocolysis
Outi Palomäki1, Miia Jansson, Heini Huhtala
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tampere University Hospital, Finland.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of acute tocolysis on severely pathological cardiotocographic (CTG) readings during the first stage of labor. Seventy-three consecutive parturients with full-term pregnancy were treated by acute tocolysis with a beta-mimetic agent after recognition of severe CTG abnormality in the first stage of labor. The main outcome measures were normalization or persistence of the CTG pattern after tocolysis. Risk factors with regard to CTG effect of tocolysis were also evaluated. In 67% of cases the CTG pattern normalized at a mean of 4 minutes after the beginning of intravenous tocolysis. No characteristic feature of the parturient, labor course, CTG abnormality, or the parameters of uterine contractive activity was found to be a predictive factor with regard to the CTG effect of tocolysis. No adverse effects of tocolytic therapy were found. Tocolysis with a beta-mimetic agent is an effective method to normalize the CTG pattern during the first stage of labor, even in cases without uterine hypertonicity.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of acute tocolysis on severely pathological cardiotocographic (CTG) readings during the first stage of labor. Seventy-three consecutive parturients with full-term pregnancy were treated by acute tocolysis with a beta-mimetic agent after recognition of severe CTG abnormality in the first stage of labor. The main outcome measures were normalization or persistence of the CTG pattern after tocolysis. Risk factors with regard to CTG effect of tocolysis were also evaluated. In 67% of cases the CTG pattern normalized at a mean of 4 minutes after the beginning of intravenous tocolysis. No characteristic feature of the parturient, labor course, CTG abnormality, or the parameters of uterine contractive activity was found to be a predictive factor with regard to the CTG effect of tocolysis. No adverse effects of tocolytic therapy were found. Tocolysis with a beta-mimetic agent is an effective method to normalize the CTG pattern during the first stage of labor, even in cases without uterine hypertonicity.
Related Concept Videos
Cardiac Catheterization IV: Nursing Management
Cardiac Catheterization I: Pre-Procedure Overview
Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management
Cardiac Catheterization III: Left Heart Catheterization
Cardiac Output II: Effect of Stroke Volume on Cardiac Output
Preload
Preload refers to the initial elongation of the cardiac myocytes before contraction and is related to the volume of blood filling the heart at the end of diastole, or end-diastolic volume. The...
