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[Electrocardiographic changes during at term labor]

E Perrotta1, C Carillo, P Celli

  • 1Servizio di Cardiologia, Ospedale San Giacomo, Roma.

Giornale Italiano Di Cardiologia
|February 13, 1999
PubMed
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Electrocardiographic ST-changes during labor in healthy women are common and not indicative of heart problems. These transient changes are linked to a drop in plasmatic potassium (K) and resolve after delivery.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Obstetrics
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Electrocardiographic ST-changes are observed during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.
  • Previous studies often linked these changes to medical interventions like oxytocics or anesthesia.
  • The current study investigates ST-changes in healthy women undergoing spontaneous labor without interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To detect ST-changes during spontaneous labor in healthy women without anesthetic or oxytocic therapy.
  • To investigate the relationship between ST-changes and variations in plasmatic electrolytes and other pathophysiological factors.

Main Methods:

  • Electrocardiograms (ECGs) were performed on 46 healthy women at term pregnancy, during labor, and postpartum.
  • Plasmatic electrolytes (Na, K, Cl, Mg, Ca) were measured during ECGs.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Patients were categorized into groups with (Group A) and without (Group B) ST-changes.

    • Main Results:

    • During labor, 59% of women (Group A) exhibited ST-changes, including T-wave inversion and ST shifts.
    • A significant drop in plasmatic potassium (K) was observed during labor, with a greater reduction in Group A.
    • All ST-changes resolved by three months postpartum, with all patients returning to normal ECGs.

    Conclusions:

    • ST-changes during spontaneous labor are frequent, transient, and not ischemic.
    • These changes are associated with a drop in plasmatic potassium (K), hyperventilation, hormonal shifts, uterine contractions, and pain.
    • The findings suggest these ECG alterations are a physiological response to labor, independent of medical interventions.