Indomethacin treatment of polyhydramnios, a controlled study

ABSTRACT

Indomethacin has recently been used to treat polyhydramnios. It is not known if its use will prolong pregnancy. A controlled study was undertaken to evaluate its use and its side effects. 23 pregnant mothers with polyhydramnios were studied. 14 patients were given indomethacin, 9 patients acted as a control. In the indomethacin group, the mean gestational age before starting therapy was 30.1 SD 3.5 weeks and 37.07 SD 3.4 at the time of delivery. The mean duration of indomethacin treatment was 17.2 days. The mean of the largest amniotic fluid pocket depth was 10.07 SD 1.5 before treatment, and after treatment, it was 5.9 cm SD 1.8 cm. In the control group, no change in liquor volume occurred in 5 cases, in one case hydramnios resolved spontaneously and in 3 cases liquor volume increased. The mean gestational age at the time of delivery was 37 weeks SD 3.8. The mean birth weight in the indomethacin group was 2828.2 grams [gm.] SD 659 and for the control group it was 3111 SD 1004 gm. There was no neonatal cardiovascular, renal or coagulation problems. The follow-up period was 1 year. There were 2 perinatal deaths in the control group and 1 perinatal and 1 neonatal death in the indomethacin group. It is concluded that indomethacin therapy in polyhydramnios did not prolong pregnancy