ABSTRACT
AIM: To determine if terbutaline given to mothers before elective caesarean section facilitates neonatal respiration and metabolism. METHODS: A randomised controlled trial of 25 full term infants delivered by elective caesarean section was conducted. The mothers received a continuous infusion of terbutaline or saline 120-0 minutes before birth. Umbilical artery blood was collected at birth and analysed for blood gases and catecholamines. The lung function of each infant was assessed two hours after birth, and blood pressure, heart rate, blood glucose and body temperature were monitored until 24 hours of age. RESULTS: The infants of the treated mothers (n = 13) had significantly higher dynamic lung compliance (p < 0.001), lower airway resistance (p < 0.001), and respiratory frequency than control infants (n = 12). Blood glucose and adrenaline concentrations were significantly higher in the treated group (p = 0.0014 and p < 0.01). None of these infants had any clinical respiratory difficulties; there were two cases of transient tachypnoea in the control group. No negative side effects due to the terbutaline treatment were seen among the infants. The mothers felt no discomfort caused by the terbutaline infusion, although they bled more during surgery (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Stimulation of the beta adrenoceptors in utero with terbutaline infusion to the mothers promotes neonatal respiratory and metabolic adaptation after elective caesarean section.
Subject(s)
Adrenergic beta-Agonists/pharmacology , Cesarean Section , Infant, Newborn/physiology , Lung/drug effects , Premedication , Respiration/drug effects , Terbutaline/pharmacology , Airway Resistance/drug effects , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Blood Loss, Surgical , Epinephrine/blood , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn/metabolism , Lung/physiology , Lung Compliance/drug effects , Maternal-Fetal Exchange , PregnancyABSTRACT
The relative bioavailabilities and pharmacokinetic profiles of 2 carbocisteine preparations (capsules, granulate) were evaluated in a single dose and a steady state study. 10 healthy volunteers took in a randomized, 2fold cross over design 750 mg 3-(carboxymethylthio)alanine (carbocisteine, Transbronchin) (1 portion of the granulate or 2 capsules) as a single dose or for 4 days 3 times a day (every 8 h) 1 portion of the granulate or 2 capsules, respectively. During the saturation phase the pre-dose serum levels in the morning were determined and on day 5 - after a last dosing the elimination kinetics were evaluated. The same time frame of blood withdrawals was used for the evaluation of serum kinetics after single dosing. The new developed gaschromatographic method for the rapid, sensitive and reliable quantitative determination of carbocisteine in serum saves not only a lot of time but also improves the detection limit and selectivity by a factor of approx. 10. The studies revealed bioequivalency of the carbocisteine granulate and capsule preparations. After multiple dosing, no cumulation of the carbocisteine serum levels occurred. A comparison of the AUCo-infinity and AUC tau (single/multiple dosing, respectively) showed linear pharmacokinetics without enzyme induction or saturation phenomena in man.
