Abstract
Objective: To determine the efficacy of magnesium sulfate and salbutamol in preterm labour management and compare frequency
and severity of their side effects.
Study Design: Randomized control trial.
Place and Duration: Mother and Child Health Unit II, Pakistan Institute of Medical sciences Islamabad, from 1st January 2007 to 1st July
2007.
Methodology: The patients with singleton pregnancy and preterm labor pains at 24-36 weeks of gestation were randomly allocated
to Group A (Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4)) and Group B (Salbutamol. All patients were checked for duration of treatment means time
from start of treatment till contractions were ceased and time of delay of delivery, taken from start of treatment till parturition; that
was further divided into <24 hour, 24-48 hours, 2-7 days,7-28 days and >28 days to see prolongation of pregnancy. Efficacy was taken
as less duration of treatment and more time duration in delaying of delivery by each drug. The patients were observed for appearance
of relevant side effects and those were further categorized into no side effects, mild and severe side effects.
Results: Maternal demographic features were similar in both groups. Average duration of treatment of both drugs was similar (20
±5.5 vs. 19±5.2) hours with non-significant p value. Average time gained in delaying delivery by salbutamol was more than magnesium
sulphate (6.2 vs. 5.8 days) with p value of 0.04, signifying its better efficacy. In MgSO4 group mild side effects i.e. flushing 70%, mild
headache and slight dry mouth 56.6% each, were experienced more than severe side effects like severe vomiting, dizziness and
headache in 3.3% each, dry mouth and sweating in 6.6% patients each. In salbutamol group more events were of severe intensity as
compared to mild and they occurred in majority of patients, as 40% patients had severe maternal tachycardia and anxiety, 36.6%
patients had severe fetal tachycardia. Total 79.9% patients had palpitations and in 33.3% patients it was of severe intensity.
Conclusion: Salbutamol was superior in efficacy but it was associated with more side effects of severe intensity as compared to
Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4) that was better tolerated with less side effects mostly of mild intensity so salbutamol is more efficacious
than MgSO4 but should be used with caution.
Jaweria Faisal, Sadia Kanwal, Hira Omair, Zeba Munzar. (2019) Comparison of magnesium sulfate and salbutamol for the management of preterm labour, Isra Medical Journal, Volume 11, Issue 1.
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