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

Abstract

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.