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Umbilical cord acid base changes associated with perinatal cardiac failure
H S Brar1, M K Wong, T H Kirschbaum
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|March 1, 1988
Summary
Umbilical cord blood gas analysis is crucial for assessing fetal well-being during distress. Umbilical artery samples are essential for accurate metabolic status evaluation in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal medicine
- Neonatology
- Fetal physiology
Background:
- Emergency cesarean sections are performed for fetal distress.
- Assessing fetal status via umbilical cord blood gas is vital.
Observation:
- Two infants delivered via emergency cesarean section due to fetal distress were studied.
- Both infants experienced adverse outcomes, including stillbirth and neonatal death.
- Postmortem examinations revealed cardiac dilation and failure in both fetuses.
Findings:
- Umbilical vein blood gas values (pH, PcO2, PO2) were near normal.
- Umbilical artery samples showed acidotic pH, high PCO2, and low PO2.
- These discrepancies suggest prolonged umbilical cord circulation time due to fetal cardiac failure.
Implications:
- Sluggish fetal perfusion may lead to umbilical vein values mimicking maternal venous blood.
- Accurate fetal metabolic assessment requires umbilical artery blood gas analysis.
- Standardized protocols for umbilical cord blood gas sampling in perinatal surveillance are needed.