Prolonged use of tocolytic agents in the expectant management of placenta previa.

The effects of the prolonged use (greater than seven days) of tocolytic agents, along with other established procedures of conservative, expectant management, were studied in 45 patients with either total or marginal-partial placenta previa. Our regimen prolonged pregnancy for seven days or more in 81.2% of total placenta previas and 91.7% of marginal-partial ones. Antepartum hospitalization and shortened neonatal length of stay resulted in a total saving of $18,175 per case. The prolonged use of tocolytic agents, in addition to expectant management, in patients with placenta previa increased the length of pregnancy, decreased neonatal morbidity and was cost effective.