Interpretation
In the present study the mean dose required in nifedipine group to achieve target BP was 2.25 ± 0.74 and in Labetalol group was 2.7 ± 0.91 which was found to be statistically significant (p-value = 0.018). The mean time required to achieve target BP in Nifedipine and Labetalol group was 45.00 ± 14.84 min and 54.00 ± 18.22 min respectively which was also found to be statistically significant (p-value = 0.018). Hence Nifedipine required significantly fewer doses and less time to achieve target BP as compared with IV Labetalol. These findings were similar to that found in a study conducted by Shekhar S et al (2013)7 where the median time taken to achieve target blood pressure was 40 minutes (interquartile range, 20-60 minutes) compared with 60 minutes (interquartile range 40-85 minutes) for nifedipine and labetalol, respectively (p=.008). The median dose required was two (interquartile range 1-3) compared with three (interquartile range 2-4.25) for nifedipine and labetalol, respectively (p=.008).
In a study by Prof. S. Randhoni Devi et al (2017)8, The mean time was 71.00 ± 66.60 minutes in labetalol group and 25.20 ± 14.03 minutes in the nifedipine group ( p-value of < 0.01) and mean doses were 1.12 ± .32 in nifedipine group and 2.04 ± 1.37 in labetalol group(p-value <0.01). Gavit Y et al (2018)9 also had similar findings in his study.
Side effects of drugs included nausea ,postural hypotension, headache, drowsiness but the results were comparable in both the groups. Dhali B et al (2012)10 and Shekhar S et al (2013)7 also found the side effect profiles of both the drugs were similar.
In our study, 17.5% and 25% babies in Group-A and Group-B respectively had APGAR score < 7, the number of NICU admission was 15% in Group-A as compared to 12.5% in Group-B which was also not statistically significant. NICU admissions were due to prematurity and meconium aspiration syndrome. There was no perinatal mortality reported in the study.Prof. S. Randhoni Devi et al (2017)8 also found insignificant variation in percentage of NICU admission in the both groups (labetalol group = 14% versus nifedipine group = 4%; p =.081).