Intravenous salbutamol for external cephalic version

• Main Authors: Vani, S., Lau, S.Y., Lim, B.K., Omar, S.Z., Tan, P.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: R Medicine; RG Gynecology and obstetrics
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/10850/1/Intravenous_salbutamol_for_external_cephalic_version.pdf; http://eprints.um.edu.my/10850/; http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020729208003822

Objective: To evaluate the success of external cephalic version (ECV) using an adjusted bolus dose intravenous salbutamol compared with no tocolysis. Methods: An open-label randomized study of 114 women with a term breech fetus randomized to receive either an intravenous bolus dose of 0.1 mg salbutarnol with further boluses every 5 minutes, as required, before commencing ECV, or no tocolysis. Primary outcomes were successful ECV and rate of cesarean delivery. Results: Salbutamol tocolysis resulted in a higher rate of successful ECV compared with no tocolysis (70.2 40/57 vs 36.8% 21/57; RR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.8; P<0.001). Cesarean delivery rate was lower in the salbutamol group compared with the control group (31.6% 18/57 vs 63.2% 36/57; RR 0.5. 95% CI 0.3-0.8: P=0.001). Salbutamol dose ranged from 0.1-0.4 mg and Outcome was not related to dose. Conclusion: Adjusted dose intravenous salbutamol tocolysis prior to ECV increases its success rate and reduces the cesarean delivery rate. (C) 2008 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.