The Control of Hypertension in Labour

Summary: Twenty‐five patients with severe pre‐eclamptic toxaemia in labour were treated with one of the hypotensive drugs bethanidine or diazoxide combined with diazepam. In all patients a satisfactory reduction and subsequent control of the blood pressure occurred. There was no maternal mortality or morbidity and there was one neonatal death from prematurity. Diazoxide has a more rapid and predictable action than bethanidine, but it may cause hyperglycaemia in the fetus and therefore should probably be avoided in diabetic patients. It is contended that the combination of a hypotensive agent with an anticonvulsant drug such as diazepam is more effective in controlling an elevated blood pressure in labour than the conventional administration of heavy sedatives with their associated maternal and fetal hazards.