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Maternal oxygenation during normal labour
P N Reed1, A D Colquhoun, C D Hanning
1University Department of Anaesthesia, Leicester General Hospital.
Arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation (SaO2) was monitored continuously during normal labour in 33 healthy parturients receiving pethidine and nitrous oxide for analgesia. Sixteen (49%) had episodes exceeding 10 s duration when SaO2 was less than 90% (mean 83.7%, range 89-60%). Two women had multiple episodes of profound hypoxia with SaO2 less than 70%.
Arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation (SaO2) was monitored continuously during normal labour in 33 healthy parturients receiving pethidine and nitrous oxide for analgesia. Sixteen (49%) had episodes exceeding 10 s duration when SaO2 was less than 90% (mean 83.7%, range 89-60%). Two women had multiple episodes of profound hypoxia with SaO2 less than 70%.