American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Feb 1975
The acid-base and biochemical characteristics of intrapartum fetal asphyxia.
The maternal and fetal acid-base, lactate, and pyruvate characteristics during the course of labor and at delivery were studied in 124 patients delivered of an infant with evidence of metabolic acidosis at delivery. This metabolic acidosis is principally caused by hyperlactatemia resulting from the tissue oxygen debt accompanying fetal asphyxia. ⋯ This evidence of fetal asphyxia developed during the last half and principally during the last two hours of the intrapartum period. Acid-base assessment of fetal blood with identification of a metabolic acidosis will provide an accurate objective diagnosis of intrapartum fetal asphyxia.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Feb 1975
Clinical characteristics of pregnancies complicated by intrapartum fetal asphyxia.
The clinical characteristics of 124 pregnancies complicated by intrapartum fetal asphyxia have been reviewed. The evidence of fetal asphyxia tends to appear earlier in patients with maternal medical and obstetric complications than in those with labor complications. ⋯ Low Apgar scores occurred in 40 per cent of infants with moderate asphyxia and in 80 per cent of infants with severe asphyxia at delivery. In the newborn infants, clinical evidence of cerebral abnormality was observed in 3 per cent, and evidence of the respiratory distress syndrome was seen in 3 per cent of the study group.