Open AccessTHE INDUCTION OF LABOUR WITH PROSTAGLANDIN F 2α BY INTRAVENOUS INFUSION
Author(s) -
Lindmark Gunilla,
Zador Göran,
Nilsson Bo A.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016347409156409
Subject(s) - medicine , scalp , pregnancy , fetus , oxytocin , gestation , prostaglandin , acidosis , obstetrics , fetal distress , prostaglandin e , uterus , anesthesia , surgery , genetics , biology
. Serial determination of fetal and maternal pH, Pco 2 and BD ECF was performed in 34 cases of labour inductions with intravenously administered prostaglandin F 2α or oxytocin. These values were compared with those found in ten cases of spontaneous labour. With the exception of eight cases of “high risk pregnancies” all the remaining parturients were healthy and within the 38th to 42nd week of gestation. With regard to the cases of “uncomplicated” pregnancies the general patterns of the acid‐base changes were very similar in the three groups. The BD ECF values in fetal scalp blood, however, showed a more marked tendency to increase in the group induced with prostaglandin. Further analysis of this group revealed that the rise of BD ECF values could be attributed to cases with episodes of uterine hypertonus or signs of uterine incoordination. In the “high risk” pregnancy group the pH values in fetal scalp blood were lower and the BD ECF values higher than in the group of “normal” pregnancy cases. The general pattern and the magnitude of the acid‐base changes do not seem to be influenced by the administration of oxytocin or prostaglandin F 2α as induction agents providing uterine activity is normal. Abnormal uterine activity, initiated by any of the two induction agents, is, however, associated with an increased risk of fetal acidosis.