Ritodrine-induced pulmonary oedema in labour. Successful management using epidural anaesthesia

[Successful resuscitation of a patient with prolonged tocolytic therapy and an emergency cesarean section]

Ritodrine is the only medicament approved by FDA in the USA as well as in our country for prevention of the threatening preterm labor. Its adverse effects upon the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, including pulmonary oedema and myocardial ischemia, occur more frequently during the intravenous therapy than during the oral maintenance therapy. The aim of this report was to present a patient with cardiovascular adverse effects of ritodrine, who had her pregnancy terminated by an urgent cesarean section under general anesthesia. In the course of operation, the patient had two cardiac arrest (total of 70 min). Resuscitation was performed by direct and indirect heart massage. The patient's condition was stabilized during the next six hours. The patient was transferred to the coronary unit, where the treatment was continued for 30-days period, after which the patient was released home as completely recovered.

Tocolysis with beta-adrenergic receptor agonists

Beta-adrenergic receptor agonists have been used for tocolysis in the setting of preterm labor for more than three decades. One of these agents, ritodrine hydrochloride, is the only Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug for the treatment of preterm labor. Despite their widespread use, only a few prospective randomized placebo-controlled trials have been performed. These agents have been shown to have more patients deliver beyond 48 hours after the onset of treatment as compared with controls, but have never shown a difference in neonatal outcomes. Because they are one of the few tocolytic agents to have been shown to make a difference when compared with controls, the beta-agonists are commonly used as the control groups in studies examining the efficacy of newer tocolytic agents. In general, agents such as nifedipine, magnesium sulfate, and atosiban have not been shown to be more efficacious than the beta-agonists. However, several studies have shown these agents to have less side effects and lower discontinuation rates than the beta-agonists.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy. A rare cause of pulmonary oedema in late pregnancy

A case of peripartum cardiomyopathy that occurred together with pre-eclampsia is described. This gave rise to pulmonary oedema at 36 weeks' gestation. Intensive care management and the need for invasive monitoring, especially pulmonary artery wedge pressure, of patients who develop pulmonary oedema in the peripartum period is discussed.