Modification of maternal and fetal oxygenation with the use of tracheal gas infusion

A new technique is described for producing changes in fetal blood gases in the chronically instrumented pregnant sheep. Gas mixtures were infused directly into the maternal trachea. Maternal and fetal carotid arterial blood gases and pH were measured. Air infusion at 16 L X min-1 produced no change. Oxygen infusion caused significant increases in maternal PaO2 at 2 L X min-1 and in fetal PaO2 at 4 L X min-1. Nitrogen infusion significantly decreased maternal anf fetal PaO2 at 4 L X min-1. During 4 L X min-1 oxygen infusion, maternal PaO2 rose rapidly to plateau at 314 +/- 47 mm Hg at 4 minutes and fetal PaO2 rose to plateau at 28.7 +/- 2.8 mm Hg after 7 to 8 minutes. Maternal PaO2 fell to 56.4 +/- 4.3 mm Hg during nitrogen infusion (4 L X min-1) while fetal PaO2 fell to 15.9 +/- 1.8 mm Hg. Continuous infusion for 5- to 6-hour periods produced a consistent rise in maternal PaO2 during oxygen infusion and a consistent decrease during nitrogen infusion. Tracheal infusion of gases can be used to change maternal and fetal PaO2 rapidly and predictably.