Postponement of preterm birth with salbutamol.

Salbutamol was administered intravenously and orally to 58 patients who were admitted to the hospital because of premature labor. Pregnancy was postponed until at least 36 weeks' gestation in 34 of these patients. The success of this therapy was measured by a parameter of the prolongation index which was inversely related to the Bishop's score. This measurement was highest among patients in whom pregnancy was successfully prolonged.