The management of premature labor with salbutamol

One hundred and eight patients with imminent premature labor in the 24-36th week of pregnancy and with intact membranes were allocated randomly to two groups. Fifty-four patients were treated with intravenous infusion of 12-50 microgram/min of salbutamol (Ventoline) and 4 mg was subsequently given orally at 4-hour intervals. The weight of the newborn was over 2 500 g in 72% of cases. The duration of pregnancy was prolonged by over seven days in 67%, and 37 weeks of pregnancy and more was achieved in 61%. The comparable figures for the control group treated with fenoterol, 3-4 microgram/min and subsequently 5 mg orally at 4-hour intervals, were 78, 80 and 70% respectively.