[Tocolysis in imminent premature delivery: limits of indication--assessment of success--sources of error (author's transl)].

303 imminent premature deliveries were treated from 1977 to 1978 with hexoprenaline (Gynipral) on an inpatient basis. Indication for tocolysis was obtained according to the tocolysis index (Baumgarten). Cases with an index of three and more were evaluated only. This criterion enabled accurate separation between prophylactic and therapeutic tocolysis. By means of postpartal determination of the age of gestation via the Dubowitz score, the period of gestation was controlled which had been determined at the beginning of the tocolysis. This made it possible to detect erroneous indication due to false estimation of the gestation period. Tocolysis success was assessed according to two different aspects. Pharmacodynamic success was assumed if 15 or more points were attained according to the Weidinger success score. This occurred in 56,5% of all treated patients. Clinical success, defined by delivery of a child which did not die perinatally nor suffered from the respiratory distress syndrome, was seen in 90.7% of all treated patients.