Effect of neuromuscular blockade on fetal oxidative metabolism

Because fetal neuromuscular blockade has been used during cord blood sampling procedures to prevent fetal movement, we studied the effect of pancuronium bromide on fetal arterial concentrations of glucose, lactate, and oxygen and their umbilical uptake in 6 chronically prepared fetal sheep. We observed a significant increase in the arterial concentrations and decrease in the umbilical uptakes. We suggest that cord blood sampling procedures for fetal assessment of oxidative metabolism not be performed after fetal neuromuscular blockade so that data obtained might best reflect the unperturbed physiological condition of the fetus.