BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Lactate production as a response to intrapartum hypoxia in the growth-restricted fetus.
To analyse whether the increase in lactate in response to intrapartum hypoxia differs between small- (SGA), appropriate- (AGA) and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) fetuses. ⋯ SGA fetuses with fetal heart rate abnormalities have the same ability to produce lactate as a response to intrapartum hypoxia as AGA and LGA fetuses. The risk of a poor outcome associated with high lactate concentration is the same in SGA, AGA and LGA fetuses. Scalp blood lactate analysis is therefore a reliable method for intrapartum fetal surveillance of suspected growth-restricted fetuses scheduled for vaginal delivery at ≥ 34 weeks of gestation.