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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.

British Journal of Anaesthesia
|March 1, 1989
PubMed
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Continuous monitoring of arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation (SaO2) during labor revealed that nearly half of women receiving pethidine and nitrous oxide experienced significant oxygen desaturation. This highlights potential risks associated with common labor analgesia.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Anesthesiology
  • Respiratory Physiology

Background:

  • Pethidine and nitrous oxide are commonly used for labor analgesia.
  • Monitoring maternal oxygenation during labor is crucial for fetal well-being.
  • The impact of standard analgesia on maternal arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation (SaO2) requires detailed investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To continuously monitor arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation (SaO2) in healthy parturients during normal labor.
  • To assess the incidence and severity of oxygen desaturation episodes in women receiving pethidine and nitrous oxide analgesia.

Main Methods:

  • Continuous monitoring of arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation (SaO2).
  • Study population: 33 healthy parturients undergoing normal labor.

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  • Analgesia administered: Pethidine and nitrous oxide.

    • Main Results:

    • 49% of women experienced SaO2 episodes below 90% for over 10 seconds.
    • The average lowest SaO2 recorded during these episodes was 83.7%.
    • Two women experienced profound hypoxia with SaO2 below 70%.

    Conclusions:

    • Pethidine and nitrous oxide analgesia during labor are associated with significant risk of arterial oxyhaemoglobin desaturation.
    • Close monitoring of SaO2 is recommended for parturients receiving these analgesics.
    • Further research into safer analgesia options or interventions to mitigate hypoxia is warranted.