European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Spontaneous preterm labour without any apparent medical or obstetric complications is one of the main reason for perinatal mortality. The present study was conducted to compare oral nifedipine and transdermal nitroglycerine patch for tocolysis in preterm labour to determine the decrease in neonatal and maternal comorbidities.
Materials and methods: 120 patients with preterm labour during 28 to 36 weeks gestational age were divided into two groups of 60 each. Patients in group I were given oral nifidepine and in group II transdermal nitroglycerine patch was applied.
Results: Comparison of maternal age in both the study groups. The distribution of maternal age is almost similar in both the groups. Comparison of mean prolongation duration according to gestational age in both the study groups indicate that overall duration of prolongation was better in oral nifedipine group compared to Nitroglycerine patch group. However, the differences were not statistically significant.Comparison of complications and their p values (<0.05) indicate that headache and hypotension was significantly higher in Nitroglycerine patch compared to oral nifedipine group. This also led to significantly higher discontinuation rate due to hypotension in Nitroglycerine patch group compared to oral nifedipine group. Tachycardia was significantly higher in oral nifedipine group compared to Nitroglycerine patch group with p value <0.01. Comparison of complications which lead to treatment discontinuation in both the study groups. In oral nifedipine group treatment was discontinued in one case due to severe headache, in four cases due to tachycardia, and in one case due to hypotension. In Nitroglycerine patch group treatment was discontinued in five cases due to severe headache, in two cases due to tachycardia, in five cases due to hypotension, and in one case due to palpitation. Out of 60 cases in oral nifedipine group in 6 cases treatment was discontinued while in Nitroglycerine patch group in 13 cases treatment was discontinued. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.05) indicating that treatment discontinuation was significantly higher in Nitroglycerine patch compared to oral Nifedipine.
Conclusion: Considering the availability and side effects we recommend to use oral nifedipine for tocolysis over Nitroglycerine patch.