Open AccessThe Effect of Maternal Hypercapnia and Hyperoxia on Breathing Movements in the Normal and Growth‐Retarded Fetus
Author(s) -
Weering H. K.,
Wladimiroff J. W.
Publication year - 1982
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 - 10.3109/00016348209156955
Subject(s) - medicine , hypercapnia , fetus , hyperoxia , respiration , anesthesia , respiratory rate , apgar score , pregnancy , breathing , respiratory system , physiology , heart rate , acidosis , lung , anatomy , biology , blood pressure , genetics
. Fifteen normal pregnant subjects inhaled a 7% CO 2 mixture over a period of 5 min, resulting in a markedly increased rate of fetal breathing. In a further 15 normal pregnant subjects, an 80% O 2 mixture was administered over a period of 10 min; during the second half of this stimulation period a significant increase in fetal breathing rate was noted. Finally, a 7% CO 2 mixture was administered during a 5‐min period to a total of 26 pregnant patients with fetal growth retardation. Seventeen of these 26 patients were subsequently administered an 80% O 2 mixture during a 10‐min period, immediately followed by a mixture of 80% O 2 and 7% CO 2 over a 5‐min period. During both maternal hypercapnia and hyperoxia a marked increase in fetal breathing rate was noted, which was not essentially different from that seen in normal pregnancy. Administration of a mixture of O 2 and CO 2 did not result in any significant change in fetal breathing activity. At birth, all growth‐retarded infants had an Apgar score of 6 or more at one minute. It can be concluded that respiration in both the normal and the clinically non‐hypoxic growth‐retarded fetus shows a similar reaction pattern towards alterations in maternal gaseous exchange.