Acute Pulmonary Edema Secondary to Long-Term Use of Oral Ritodrine in a Woman With a Triplet Pregnancy

Abstract

A 28-year-old primigravida who had taken oral ritodrine for 5 months to stop premature uterine contractions and was admitted in labor in the 33rd week of pregnancy developed acute pulmonary edema after cesarean section. Although parenteral ritodrine is the beta-adrenergic agent used most extensively to treat premature labor, only 1 case of pulmonary edema associated with long-term use of oral ritodrine had been reported so far. The present report presents for the first time computed tomograpic findings of acute pulmonary edema secondary to tocolytic therapy. © 2006 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.