Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings
14:40

Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings

Published on: October 25, 2015

Labor and fetal heart rate decelerations: relation to fetal metabolic acidosis

Michael G Ross1

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA. mikeross@ucla.edu

Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology
|February 1, 2011
PubMed

Although intrauterine fetal compromise during labor accounts for a small proportion of cerebral palsy cases, fetal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy remains an important and sometimes preventable etiology. This paper reviews the mechanisms regulating fetal heart rate responses, pathogenesis of fetal metabolic acidosis, and thresholds for metabolic acidosis associated with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. The knowledge of normal changes in fetal metabolic acidosis during labor together with changes in association with fetal heart rate decelerations, can aid in the interpretation and management of fetal heart rate tracings.

More Related Videos

Fetal Mouse Cardiovascular Imaging Using a High-frequency Ultrasound (30/45MHZ) System07:34

Fetal Mouse Cardiovascular Imaging Using a High-frequency Ultrasound (30/45MHZ) System

Published on: May 5, 2018

Continuous Telemetric In Utero Tracheal Pressure Measurements in Fetal Lambs05:40

Continuous Telemetric In Utero Tracheal Pressure Measurements in Fetal Lambs

Published on: December 22, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Diagnosing Acidosis and Alkalosis01:24

Diagnosing Acidosis and Alkalosis

Diagnosing acid-base imbalances involves systematically analyzing arterial blood samples, focusing on three key measurements: pH, bicarbonate (HCO3−) concentration, and carbon dioxide partial pressure (PCO2). This analysis follows a four-step process that helps identify the imbalance's underlying cause and nature.
First, the pH level is assessed to determine whether the blood pH is normal (7.35–7.45), low (acidosis), or high (alkalosis).
Next, the PCO2  and HCO3−  values are examined to...
Fetal Circulation01:14

Fetal Circulation

Fetal circulation is a unique system that facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the developing fetus and the mother. This intricate process takes place through a special organ called the placenta.
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Diabetic Ketoacidosis ll: Pathophysiology01:22

Diabetic Ketoacidosis ll: Pathophysiology

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a metabolic emergency characterized by hyperglycemia, ketonemia, and metabolic acidosis. It results from severe insulin deficiency and an excess of counterregulatory hormones, leading to uncontrolled lipolysis, ketogenesis, and widespread electrolyte and fluid disturbances.Pathophysiology The central event in DKA is a profound loss of insulin action. Without insulin, glucose uptake in insulin-dependent tissues is impaired, while hepatic glucose production...
Disorders of Acid-Base Balance01:29

Disorders of Acid-Base Balance

The human body maintains a precise pH range of arterial blood between 7.35 and 7.45. Deviations result in either acidosis (pH < 7.35) or alkalosis (pH > 7.45). These conditions are further classified as respiratory or metabolic disorders based on their underlying cause.
Respiratory Acidosis and Alkalosis
Respiratory acidosis occurs due to an increase in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide PCO2 in the blood. It often arises from shallow breathing or impaired gas exchange caused by...
Diabetic Ketoacidosis l: Introduction01:25

Diabetic Ketoacidosis l: Introduction

DefinitionDiabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute, life-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus, characterized by a triad of hyperglycemia (blood glucose >250 mg/dL), ketonemia or ketonuria, and metabolic acidosis (arterial pH <7.30 and serum bicarbonate <18 mEq/L). It results from insulin deficiency combined with elevated levels of counterregulatory hormones—glucagon, catecholamines, cortisol, and growth hormone—leading to increased lipolysis, hepatic ketone production, and...
Acute Respiratory Failure-III01:30

Acute Respiratory Failure-III

Hypercapnic respiratory failure, also known as Type 2 or ventilatory respiratory failure, is a severe condition characterized by the body's inability to effectively remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the bloodstream. It leads to an arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2) exceeding 45 mmHg and a blood pH above 7.35. This situation indicates that the body's ventilatory demand, or the ventilation needed to maintain normal PaCO2 levels, surpasses its supply or the maximum gas flow achievable without causing...