GuidelinesEML (Adult Hospital STG)
Suppression of Labour for Foetal Distress
Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List for South Africa, Hospital Level, Adults, Updated for the 2023 Edition
O68.0-3/8-9 + (Z51.2)
DESCRIPTION
Tocolysis is useful to treat foetal distress in labour and to suppress labour in women needing transfer or awaiting Caesarean delivery. Also used prior to external cephalic version.
MEDICINE TREATMENT
- Salbutamol bolus, 250 mcg IV, slowly over 2 minutes.
- Reconstitute the solution as follows:
- Add 1 mL (i.e., 0.5 mg/mL) salbutamol to 9 mL sodium chloride 0.9% to make a solution of 50 mcg/mL. Administer 5 mL (250 mcg) of this solution.
- Monitor pulse. Do not administer if mother has cardiac disease.
- Place the mother in the left lateral position.
- If pulse increases >120 bpm, discontinue salbutamol.
- Reconstitute the solution as follows:
LoE:IIbxxxviii
Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List for South Africa, Adult Hospital Level, 2025-9 Review_Version 2.0_26 March 2026
Chapter 6 Obstetrics_6.12 Suppression of Labour for Foetal Distress
Drugs mentioned
ICD-10 codes
- O68.0Labour and delivery complicated by fetal heart rate anomaly
- O68.1Labour and delivery complicated by meconium in amniotic fluid
- O68.2Labour and delivery complicated by fetal heart rate anomaly with meconium in amniotic fluid
- O68.3Labour and delivery complicated by biochemical evidence of fetal stress
- O68.8Labour and delivery complicated by other evidence of fetal stress
- O68.9Labour and delivery complicated by fetal stress, unspecified
- Z51.2Other chemotherapy