Objective To compare the efficacy of tocolysis with specific regimens of nifedipine and ritodrine. Maternal side effects and neonatal outcome also were evaluated. Design A prospective, randomised trial. Subjects Seventy‐one women, including 11 with twin pregnancies, who had uterine contractions and observed cervical changes. Main outcome measures Prolongation of pregnancy for 48 h, seven days and until 36 weeks of pregnancy were evaluated for each treatment. Maternal side effects and haemodynamic changes were compared, as well as neonatal outcomes. Results Delivery was delayed for 48 h, seven days, and until the 36th week of gestation in 83%, 67%, and 50%, respectively, of women in the nifedipine group, compared with 77%, 63% and 43%, respectively, of women in the ritodrine group (no significant difference). Maternal side effects were significantly less common in the nifedipine group (27%) than in the ritodrine group (77%) (P <0.001). The neonatal outcome was similar in the two groups. The fall in mean arterial and diastolic blood pressure, and the rise in maternal heart rate were significantly greater in the women who received ritodrine compared with those treated with nifedipine. Conclusions Nifedipine is as effective as ritodrine in suppressing preterm labour. Its use is associated with less frequent side effects.

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Diagnosing retained products of conception in a woman presenting with postpartum or postabortion bleeding presents a clinical challenge. Although ultrasonographic examination may be potentially useful in detecting retained products of conception, its accuracy has not yet been established. Saline infusion sonohysterography is a simple ultrasonographic technique for enhanced transvaginal sonographic imaging of the endometrial cavity by the instillation of saline into the uterine cavity during ultrasonographic evaluation. This technique enhanced our ability to diagnose retained products of conception, and we describe our experience in evacuating them under sonographic guidance while performing saline infusion sonohysterography.