TOCOLYSIS Meaning and
Definition
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Tocolysis is a medical term that refers to the use of drugs or interventions to inhibit or delay uterine contractions during pregnancy. This practice is commonly employed to prevent preterm labor and the subsequent premature birth of a baby. The aim of tocolysis is to provide sufficient time for medical interventions to help improve the baby's overall health and chances of survival before delivery.
Tocolytic drugs, commonly administered intravenously or orally, work by targeting the smooth muscle cells of the uterus and inhibiting their contraction. Some common tocolytic medications include beta-adrenergic agonists, calcium channel blockers, and prostaglandin inhibitors. These drugs act by relaxing the muscular walls of the uterus and prolonging the pregnancy, which allows medical professionals to administer corticosteroids to help accelerate fetal lung maturity or perform other necessary interventions.
Tocolysis is usually considered for pregnant women who present with symptoms of preterm labor, such as regular contractions, cervical changes, or rupture of membranes, before the gestational age of 37 weeks. However, it is important to note that tocolysis is not always effective in preventing premature birth and may carry potential risks and side effects.
In summary, tocolysis is a medical intervention that aims to postpone uterine contractions in order to delay premature labor and provide the fetus with better chances of survival. This technique involves the administration of certain medications or interventions that temporarily inhibit the contraction of uterine smooth muscles.
Common Misspellings for TOCOLYSIS
- rocolysis
- focolysis
- gocolysis
- yocolysis
- 6ocolysis
- 5ocolysis
- ticolysis
- tkcolysis
- tlcolysis
- tpcolysis
- t0colysis
- t9colysis
- toxolysis
- tovolysis
- tofolysis
- todolysis
- tocilysis
- tocklysis
- tocllysis
- tocplysis
Etymology of TOCOLYSIS
The word "tocolysis" is derived from the Greek words "tokos" (τόκος), meaning "childbirth", and "lysis" (λύσις), meaning "loosening" or "dissolution". Therefore, "tocolysis" literally means "loosening of childbirth" or "suppression of labor".
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