[Intrapartum oxygen saturation in fetus with symptoms of distress shown during fetal cardiotocograph monitoring]

Abstract

The aim of the study is to establish the mean values of SpO2, during labour with symptoms of fetal distress and to find out when fetal hypoxia is expected to develop as well as unsatisfactory clinical status of the newborn. The study includes 62 women on labour at term with pathological decelerations from the fetal heart rate (FHR). SpO2 is monitored by means of fetal pulse oxymeter Nellcor N 400. Simultaneously FHR is monitored by means of cardiotocography. Fetal well-being is verified by pH u blood gas analysis from fetal scalp while the newborn well-being is proven by pH from umbilical artery and Apgar score at minute 1 and 5 after birth. The mean continuity of SpO2 recording during the first period of labour is 107.84 +/- 25.77 min., with mean 86.74 +/- 7.06% reliability of the recordings; for the second period--26 +/- 8.98 min. with reliability of the recordings 77.07 +/- 9.96%. During the first period of labour the mean value of SpO2 is 43.00 +/- 6.75%. With dilation of 4-5cm SpO2 is 46.25 +/- 5.92%, with 6-7CM SpO2 is 44.43 +/- 6.39% and with 8-9cm dilation SpO2 is 42.69 +/- 6.80%. During second period of labour the mean value of SpO2 is 39.14 +/- 8.41%. There is a statistically significant fall of SpO2 during the second period compared to the first period of labour (p<0.05). A correlation exists between the values of SpO2 and the well-being of the newborn and a fall of SpO2 equal or less than 30% is a sign of developing abnormal condition of the newborn.