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TIME: AN IMPORTANT VARIABLE AT CAESAREAN SECTION
Author(s) -
Lumley Judith,
Walker Adrian,
Marum John,
Wood Carl
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1970.tb03402.x
Subject(s) - asphyxia , medicine , caesarean section , fetus , hypercapnia , anesthesia , in utero , hypoxia (environmental) , obstetrics , elective caesarean section , general anaesthesia , pregnancy , fetal circulation , apgar score , respiration , placental circulation , fetal distress , placenta , acidosis , anatomy , chemistry , organic chemistry , biology , oxygen , genetics
Summary Biochemical evidence of fetal asphyxia (relative hypoxia with hypercapnia) and acidaemia has been found in the cord blood of infants delivered by Caesarean section in a series of patients who had been selected to exclude complications of pregnancy which prejudiced the fetal condition before or during anaesthesia. Further, the findings strongly suggest that fetal asphyxia develops progressively, and Apgar scores were lower as the duration of anaesthesia was extended. While changes with time in the general circulation and respiration of the mother could be excluded as the cause of fetal deterioration, local changes in the utero‐placental circulation, due to recumbency or surgical manipulation, and the effect of anaesthetic agents could not.