[Risks of prolonged tocolysis].

Abstract

Premature delivery menace is still a major issue in obstetrics. It concerns 4 to 5% of the pregnancies. Being responsible of an important fetal morbidity, it implies the use of a rapid and efficient treatment. This treatment uses progestins, prostaglandins inhibitors and beta-mimetics. The more efficient these medicines are, the more dangerous is their use so that their prescription must be weighted thoroughly, after setting apart the absolute counter-indications. Since they may cause severe accidents, especially cardio-vascular ones as for the beta-mimetics, this implies an indespinsable medical follow up during their use. This article, using a review of the literature, enumerates the various pharmacological families prescribed for the treatment of the premature delivery menace. For each, the pharmacological effects, the tolerance, the side effects and the accidents are detailed. The modalities of their prescription as well as the necessary medical follow up are given. Taking into considerations these elementary rules of prescription enhances the chances of lowering down at most the risks related to the use of these treatments.